Biopsychosocial Challenges and Needs of Young African American Women with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer known to have poorer prognoses and lower survival rates compared with other types of breast cancer. In addition, TNBC is overrepresented in premenopausal African American women. Using grounded theory as the qualitative methodological approach, the present article elucidates unique biopsychosocial challenges and needs of young African American women with TNBC. A study group of six women with TNBC and a comparison group of six women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer were interviewed longitudinally over three time points throughout the cancer treatment trajectory. Major themes that were unique to the study group of women with TNBC include (a) longer, more aggressive treatment trajectories; (b) more difficult struggles with feminine identity; (c) the presence of fertility and parenting issues; (d) higher burdens of care; (e) barriers to separation and individuation as a maturation milestone; and (f) feeling out of place compared with peers. These themes provide a foundation to inform how social workers care for this underserved group of women.