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Barriers to care for breast cancer: A qualitative study in Ireland

Disparities in survival after breast cancer persist. Cancer registry data that are often used to assess associated factors only explain some of the differences. The purpose of this study was to obtain information from disadvantaged Irish women concerning possible barriers to care for breast cancer above and beyond risk factors collected by cancer registries. We used a qualitative interview study with disadvantaged women in treatment for breast cancer, following the methods of thematic analysis. Important themes potentially related to disparity occurred in each treatment phase. Before diagnosis themes included delays in diagnosis. During treatment themes concerned surgical complications, communication difficulties and use of alternative therapies. During the post treatment phase a strong theme was lack of compliance with hormone therapy. Overarching themes were stress related to disadvantage, including financial difficulties, obesity, alcohol use, fears of eviction from home, worry about dependent relatives. Future studies of the breast cancer survival gap arising from socio-economic disadvantage may benefit from a mixed-methods approach that combines cancer registry data with personal interviews to understand the persistence of survival disparities. As breast cancer rates continue to rise disparities in survival due to socio-economic disadvantage will continue, but can be addressed and mitigated.