Aging Families and Breast Cancer: Multigenerational Issues
Abstract
With the continuing shift of cancer care to community-based care the necessity to develop programs that will enable the family to meet patients' needs for support and assistance is of paramount importance. Overall goal of this exploratory investigation is to obtain information the will: identify adult daughter caregivers in need of psychosocial support interventions to enable them to meet their mothers' needs for illness-related emotional support and assistance; reduce daughter' emotional stresses associated with this support role, and, enable the daughters to continue their caregiving role. To accomplish these objectives we are collecting data from a sample of older women receiving treatment for breast cancer and their adult caregiving daughters. The patients and their daughters each complete a questionnaire and the daughters complete a focused interview. Activities for Year 3 have focused on ongoing sample accrual and data collection, analysis of data, and dissemination of project findings through conference presentations, invited lectures and publications. Study data supports the conclusion that cancer is a disease that impacts or affects the family unit, not just he patient. Programs and services are needed that target the family and support not only the patient but the special needs of family members. While family members may be regarded as part of the care team, they are also affected by the cancer experience. It needs to be more commonly acknowledged/recognized that they hold a dual status.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA418090
Entities
People
- Victoria H. Raveis
Organizations
- Columbia University