Not out of the woods: perspectives from patients with triple-negative breast cancer

Patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are at high risk for breast cancer recurrence and metastatic disease, yet the scholarly literature on the distress and uncertainty of this vulnerable population is limited. This study aimed to characterize the experiences of patients with TNBC and obtain feedback about the development of a supportive care intervention targeted to this population’s psychosocial needs.

From 9/2021 to 2/2023, we purposefully recruited 23 patients with stage I–III TNBC who recently completed curative therapy and conducted a parallel mixed qualitative and quantitative study. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews regarding the transition from curative therapy to surveillance. Patients also completed self-report measures of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) (Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory Severity) and psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; PROMIS Anxiety).

Patients were, on average, 51 years old (SD = 13.56). Most patients (87.0%) reported elevated FCR (cutoff = 16; M = 18.91; SD = 6.22). Major themes identified in the qualitative interviews included feelings of dissimilarity among other breast cancer survivors, quality of life interference persisting in the surveillance phase, “shifting the focus away from cancer” as a coping strategy, and FCR as a primary concern. Patients also shared preferences for a TNBC-specific supportive care intervention.

Patients with TNBC experience significant challenges during the transition from curative therapy to surveillance and desire psychosocial support during this critical period. These findings illustrate potential intervention targets for a future supportive care intervention tailored to patients with TNBC.