An American scientific study published on January 26, 2015 in the journal Cancer reveals that women with breast cancer are too little informed about the characteristics of their tumor. It also highlights ethnic disparities: black and Hispanic minorities are even less informed than white women.
To carry out their study, the researchers interviewed 500 women with breast cancer, asking them if they knew the size and progress of their tumor, its main characteristics and the receptors that are involved. When put together, the results showed that 32 to 82% of patients thought they knew these characteristics, while ‘in fact only 20 to 58% of the participants reported correct characteristics. The researchers also reported a disparity according to ethnicity: in the United States, white women are more informed about their breast tumor than black women or Hispanics.
However, the team observed that the lexical field of health and level of education partly explained the gaps observed among Hispanic women. However, these socio-cultural factors were not sufficient to explain the lack of information from black women.
“An enlightened patient is worth two”
“Our results reveal the lack of understanding of many patients vis-à-vis their cancer, and show how crucial it is to improve patient education and educate healthcare professionals about this problem” concludes Dr. Freedman, co-author of the study in a statement. “Improving patients’ understanding of the importance of treatment tailored to their individual situation can lead to a more informed decision and better response to treatment. “
Knowing that the patient-professional relationship always plays a part in the success of the processing administered and its adverse effects, building the patient’s confidence through detailed information could be a significant plus. But knowing her cancer better is also important for later: once the patient is cured, she often has to tell the doctor about her history, in order to receive appropriate prescriptions.
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