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A phoenix rising: who considers herself a “survivor” after a diagnosis of breast cancer?

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate factors associated with patients’ identification of themselves as survivors after a diagnosis of breast cancer.

Methods

A self-administered survey was deployed through the nonprofit organization Breastcancer.org. As part of a larger study, we collected data on treatment, mental health, perceived prognosis, concerns about recurrence, and the question, “Do you consider yourself a survivor of breast cancer?”

Results

Of the 629 survey respondents, 492 (78 %) considered themselves survivors of breast cancer. Factors independently associated with an affirmative response were (1) believing that one’s prognosis was “very good” compared to others (p = <0.001), (2) recalling being told that treatment was curative (p = 0.04), (3) having better mental health (p = 0.002), and (4) having received chemotherapy (p = 0.01).

Conclusions and implications for cancer survivors

The disparate factors associated with the identification of oneself as a survivor—both the perception of having a very good prognosis and having received chemotherapy (reflecting high-risk disease rather than a good prognosis)—are intriguing. Clinicians caring for women with breast cancer should be sensitive to the fact that not everyone considers herself a survivor. Addressing transitions at the end of treatment and during the follow-up period may be challenging for clinicians and patients alike. Awareness of the complexities of survivor identification may help clinicians in counseling their patients.

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Acknowledgments

The SF-36 was used under license from Qualitymetric (license number QM013008).

Funding

A portion of this work was supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (R01 CA922444-01A1).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex 2800 Plymouth Road, Building 16, 400S, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2800, USA

    Sarah T. Hawley & Jennifer J. Griggs

  2. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

    Sarah T. Hawley

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA

    Kimberly Corbin

  4. Breastcancer.org

    Marisa C. Weiss

  5. Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

    Jennifer J. Griggs

  6. Department of Psychologyy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA

    Christina H. Jagielski

Authors
  1. Christina H. Jagielski
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  2. Sarah T. Hawley
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  3. Kimberly Corbin
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  4. Marisa C. Weiss
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  5. Jennifer J. Griggs
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer J. Griggs.

Additional information

A portion of this work was presented at the 2008 American Psychosocial Oncology Society Conference, Irvine, CA.

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Jagielski, C.H., Hawley, S.T., Corbin, K. et al. A phoenix rising: who considers herself a “survivor” after a diagnosis of breast cancer?. J Cancer Surviv 6, 451–457 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-012-0240-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-012-0240-z

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