Breast cancer care: women's experience

Medical treatments for breast cancer are undergoing rapid change. Studies of the management of breast cancer have investigated the psychosocial consequences of the diagnosis as expressed by the patients themselves, but infrequently relate these women's views directly to improvements in health care systems. The following study explores the experience of 18 women recently diagnosed as having breast cancer. The findings illustrate to both clinicians and managers the importance of considering a number of dimensions relevant to the psychosocial care of patients and suggest areas where health care systems may be modified to address the psychosocial needs of women. The results demonstrate the positive impact patient views can have on the development of health care services.