Purpose/objectives: To identify concerns of women who had received chemotherapy for breast cancer while pregnant.
Design: Exploratory, descriptive, retrospective pilot study.
Setting: Large cancer center in the Southwestern United States.
Sample: Six women (mean age of 35.5 years) who had been treated for breast cancer while pregnant within the previous five years.
Methods: Mailed survey using a demographic form and the Bandyk Concerns Questionnaire--a 30-item Likert-type scale.
Main research variables: Concerns about the effects of breast cancer treatment on the pregnancy and the fetus.
Findings: The primary concern was "living to see my child grow up." Of least concern was "other people's opinion of me."
Conclusions: Although an informational pamphlet was written based on these results, more extensive examination of the special group of patients is needed to draw any conclusions.
Implications for nursing practice: Nurses are in a good position to offer accurate information to women who must make the choices involved with receiving chemotherapy during pregnancy and to support the women during and after the treatment and the child's birth.