Challenges Experienced by Black Women with Breast Cancer During Active Treatment: Relationship to Treatment Adherence

Background: Although rates of death from breast cancer have declined in the USA for both Black and White women since 1990, mortality rates for Black women remain strikingly higher - 40% higher compared to White women (American Cancer Society 1). The barriers and challenges that may be triggering unfavorable treatment-related outcomes and diminished treatment adherence among Black women are not well understood.

Methods: We recruited 25 Black women with breast cancer who were to receive surgery and chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Through weekly electronic surveys, we assessed types and severity of challenges across various life domains. Because the participants rarely missed treatments or appointments, we examined the impact of severity of weekly challenges on thoughts of skipping treatment or appointment with their cancer care team using a mixed-effects location scale model.

Results: Both a higher average severity of challenges and a higher deviation of severity reported across weeks were associated with increased thoughts on skipping treatment or appointment. The correlation between the random location and scale effects was positive; thus, those women that reported more thoughts on skipping a dose of medicine or appointment were also more unpredictable with respect to the severity of challenges reported.

Conclusions: Black women with breast cancer are impacted by familial, social, work-related, and medical care factors, and these may in turn affect adherence to treatment. Providers are encouraged to actively screen and communicate with patients regarding life challenges and to build networks of support within the medical care team and social community that can help patients successfully complete treatment as planned.