QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN BREAST-CANCER SURVIVORS AS IDENTIFIED BY FOCUS GROUPS

Currently, over 1,700,000 women are living with breast cancer in the U nited States. These long-term survivors of breast cancer are challenge d to redirect their energy from issues of cancer treatment and early s ide effects toward quality of life issues related to long-term survivo rship, such as menopause, infertility, fear of recurrence, family dist ress, and uncertainty. In an attempt to obtain patient perspectives on quality of life and health care issues faced by breast cancer survivo rs, focus group methodology was utilized in the first year of a 2 year study. The sample was stratified to represent three age groups: <40 y ears, 40-60 years, and >60, and was intended to represent different de velopmental levels believed to have varying experiences with quality o f life and potentially divergent needs following breast cancer diagnos is. Results of these focus groups revealed unique quality of life conc erns of breast cancer survivors across four domains of physical, psych ological, social, and spiritual well being. Each of these domains yiel ds important implications for future research and clinical practice. ( (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.).