Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of death among women in the United States. It is estimated that in 2003, there will be over 39,800 deaths from breast cancer (ACS, 2003). The incidence of breast cancer is greater for white women but the mortality rate is higher for African American women. The mortality rate for white women has declined, while the mortality rate for African American women has increased. The reasons for this disparity are not known. Despite the abundance of health information regarding breast cancer screening and early treatment, breast cancer in African American women is still diagnosed at a later, less treatable stage relative to white women. Given these factors, more investigation is needed to help understand whether there are other adaptable personal or systemic variables that would help to decrease the mortality rate for African American women from breast cancer. Using a triangulation design, this study aims to describe African American women's experience with breast cancer. The qualitative methodology will use focus groups to obtain information on various facets of the subject's breast cancer experience. A sample of 50 women who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer and subsequent treatment for the disease within the past 5 years will be obtained from various sites and through referrals to the study. Descriptive statistics will be used to describe the variables. Correlational statistics will be used to determine whether relationships exist between the variables. Identification of themes from the focus groups will clarify what happens to African American women after they are diagnosed with breast cancer. This pilot study will contribute to the knowledge base of factors that may contribute to the survival of African American women with breast cancer.
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Principal Investigator
Pier Broadnax
Co-Investigator
M. Tish Knobf
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