Experiences of young breast cancer survivors in Appalachia

Previous research has indicated that the cancer experience in rural Appalachia is affected by the unique cultural and economic climate of the region. Due to the predominately rural and isolated communities, health disparities largely affect cancer care and health outcomes in Appalachia. In fact, recent statistics suggest that breast cancer mortality rates are higher among Appalachian women when compared with the non-Appalachian United States. More research needs to address the unique healthcare challenges in Appalachia and work to improve the cancer experience of individuals in these communities. The proposed study seeks to address young breast cancer survivors' experiences in the East Tennessee region of Appalachia. This research is designed to gather information about survivors' experiences with the healthcare system as well as communicating and seeking information about breast cancer in rural regions. Qualitative, one-on-one interviews will be conducted with breast cancer survivors 40 years and younger, and grounded theory methodologies will be utilized to analyze the data. These data will yield new insight into the unique experiences of young, Appalachian breast cancer survivors and will have implications for practitioners seeking to improve cancer care and disparities in under-served regions.

Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the unique communicative experiences and information challenges of young breast cancer survivors in the Appalachian region of the United States. 2. Identify the cancer disparities faced by young breast cancer survivors in rural, East Tennessee. 3. Design a plan for improving care, breast cancer mortality rates, and overall health outcomes for young women in this geographic area.