Dimension | Representative quote |
---|---|
Patient empowerment | "We are challenged by women who are younger and better educated. They want to know everything and be involved with all decisions [about their breast cancer]." [Policy maker from Australia] |
Managing survivorship | "We need more nurses and trained staff to take on the challenges related to the growing number of breast cancer survivors and the increase of side effects including the long-term effects of worrying and on the family" [Hospital manager from Latin America] |
Quality of life | "Quality of life is important because breast cancer patients can live for a long time and their emotional well being is important". [Patient advocate from Canada] "We use quality-of-life protocols derived from western countries, however there are cultural differences that need to be incorporated." [Physician from Asia] |
Metastatic disease | "Women present for the first time at a late stage of disease - often metastatic" [Physician from Middle East/North Africa] |
Organized advocacy | "Our government is very concerned about national breast cancer advocacy - if it gains power, then the government not only will have to support it, but it will have to also pay attention to other cancer groups." [Patient advocate from Asia] |