Abstract P6-08-10: Breast cancer in young women in Canada: A needs assessment
Authors: Gordon A , DeCoteau MJ 
Published: August 2014

The objective of our Needs Assessment research was to determine the role that age plays in the breast cancer experience for patients in Canada. Our Needs Assessment is the first national quantitative data on the experience of breast cancer for young women in Canada, from diagnosis, through treatment and survivorship. The objective for the data is to provide critical evidence based information and benchmarks to stakeholders in the breast cancer field around the challenges facing the young breast cancer patient population, which would help improve patient education, advocacy and support programs for young women.

METHODS: An online bilingual (English and French) quantitative survey consisting of 88 questions. The survey was open to women who had a breast cancer diagnosis (first time or recurrence) in the previous 6 years. 574 women responded to the survey. 372 (65%) were ages 20-45, 202 (35%) were ages 46-69. The results were analyzed to look at significant differences in the answers from younger and older respondents. The Needs Assessment Report was published in March 2013.

RESULTS: While the impact of breast cancer is stressful for women of all ages, the data from our Needs Assessment shows that younger women are particularly vulnerable to the negative psychosocial affects of the disease. Younger women (20-45) were more likely to feel their doctor did not take them seriously when they presented a possible symptom of breast cancer, such as a breast lump (17% vs. 10%) and were more likely to be dissatisfied with the diagnostic process, with 26% of women 20-29 expressing dissatisfaction (versus 19% overall). Younger women had a more difficult time navigating the health care system (36% reported difficulty vs. 29%). Of women 20-39 who expressed concerns about the impact of treatment on fertility, less than half (49%) were referred to a fertility specialist. Younger women rated very highly the importance of connecting with another women with breast cancer their own age (88% vs. 70%) but only 64% of younger women made this connection. Younger women indicated stronger fears of cancer recurrence than their older counterparts, and stronger concerns about the long term effects of treatment. In addition to needing support for their partners and children, younger women were more likely to require support for their parents (42% vs. 22%) although less than 1/3 of their parents received support. Younger women had a more difficult time transitioning from regular to occasional medical monitoring (59% vs. 42%) and were more likely to report a reduced interest in sexual activity due to treatment (67% vs. 54%).

CONCLUSION: Our needs assessment data shows that age does have an impact on the breast cancer experience and creates challenges that are not currently being met by healthcare systems. We attribute two key factors to younger women having a more difficult breast cancer experience than older women: aggressiveness of cancer treatment and life-stage. The data shows that despite a growing array of peer support based interventions and community resources available to young women, many of the concerns of young breast cancer patients are still not being met.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P6-08-10.