Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104806

Barbara A. Kreling, MS, Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 317, Washington, DC 20007, 202-687-9613, bk72@georgetown.edu

Women 65 and older account for two-thirds of the deaths from breast cancer. Of concern, older women and minority women are less likely than younger, white women to receive indicated chemotherapy, a therapy which may increase survival. In order to understand how and why their treatment choices are made, a qualitative method was used to explore the experiences of a multi-ethnic sample of 35 women after they were diagnosed with breast cancer and while they were making treatment decisions. Themes include: exaggerated negative expectations of chemotherapy by older women, preferred medium and type of information, effective and ineffective communication with physicians; how age, race, and class affect decision-making. Breast cancer survivors were interviewed in six focus groups and provided in-depth knowledge about the promoters and barriers, issues, and concerns involved in their treatment decisions. When analyzed, the role of age in decision-making was explored and deconstructed to form a model of how age, race, and class impact negative expectations, information seeking, and physician communication in treatment decision-making for breast cancer. Providers are encouraged to: identify negative expectations and rely less on written information for older and minority patients who may have exaggerated negative expectations and be less assertive in information seeking.

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