Breastfeeding outcomes, experiences and challenges, among breast cancer survivors: A systematic review of qualitative studies

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer in pregnancy is diagnosed during pregnancy, during the first year after delivery or during lactation. It is one of the most common malignancies found in women. Although most women with breast cancer are postmenopausal, the number of premenopausal patients has been increasing in recent years. There are many issues related to the psychological management of gestational cancer that need to be addressed. Inadequate receipt of information and limited understanding of treatment options and outcomes may contribute to psychological distress in women. The purpose of this work was to record as closely as possible the data regarding the experiences and difficulties of breastfeeding in breast cancer patients, as well as breastfeeding outcomes. Materials and Methods: A systematic review of articles was performed in Pubmed and Google Scholar databases, with language restrictions (only English papers) and without time limitation. Results: The study included 7 qualitative studies. The participants invovlved were breast cancer survivors. They expressed all the difficulties related to breastfeeding and their need for emotional and psychological support. Conclusions: The general conclusion that emerges is fear and uncertainty both for the mother herself and for her child, as well as anxiety, physical and psychological fatigue and changes in relationships in the family.