Abstract
Change in cognitive function is one side effect of chemotherapy that has been reported in some breast cancer survivors. Alarming reports indicate that between 16 to 50 percent of women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer experience symptoms of cognitive impairment. These symptoms include subtle changes in memory, concentration, and some higher order processes that include psychomotor speed and executive functioning. In addition, it has been reported that these symptoms may persist even years after completion of treatment. Research is limited that has explored the lived experience of the phenomenon of chemotherapy-related cognitive change in breast cancer survivors.
The purpose of this study was to uncover the meaning of cognitive change in women with breast cancer, how symptoms are experienced and become evident, how it impacts roles in personal and professional lives, and how women cope with these changes.
Sigma Membership
Beta Sigma
Type
Dissertation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Phenomenology
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Cognitive Change in Cancer Patients, Chemotherapy Side-effects, Symptoms
Advisor
Susan J. Loeb
Degree
PhD
Degree Grantor
The Pennsylvania State University
Degree Year
2013
Recommended Citation
Kanaskie, Mary Louise, "The experience of cognitive change in women with breast cancer following chemotherapy" (2019). Dissertations. 959.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/dissertations/959
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.
All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
None: Degree-based Submission
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2019-09-17
Full Text of Presentation
wf_yes
Description
This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 3573786; ProQuest document ID: 1437204143. The author still retains copyright.