Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. The diagnosis brings a range of physical, psychological and social distresses which differ for women depending on their age. This distress is significant when decision-making is crucial to cancer care and distress may impact decision-making. Current cancer decision-making supports are derived from decision-making theory that assumes patients make clinically rational decisions. Yet literature shows that women with breast cancer do not consistently make treatment decisions as expected and the reasons are unclear. It is unknown what influences decision-making for women with breast cancer and whether there are differences among women based on their age. This study is built upon a pilot study and it seeks to explore the real-world experience of making decisions in cancer. The primary purpose of this qualitative study is to explore decision-making for women with invasive breast cancer. Specific objectives include comparing decision-making for young, middle-aged and older women as well as describing how psychological and social factors influence decision-making. Participants are women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the past 12 months. To determine the influence of age on decision-making three age groups will be compared: pre-menopausal, peri-menopausal, and post-menopausal women. Multiple data sources will be collected including demographic surveys, open-ended interviews, and field notes. Constant comparative analysis will explain how women of differing ages make decisions in breast cancer and what influences their decision-making. Findings from this study will provide a patient perspective regarding treatment decision-making and will inform how to best support women of all ages in breast cancer decision-making. Ultimately, this research will contribute to improving patient care for women of all ages with breast cancer.