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Environmental Factors And Breast Cancer Mortality, Joel Collazo Rodriguez Jan 2023

Environmental Factors And Breast Cancer Mortality, Joel Collazo Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer is a public health problem in the United States that impacts diverse ethnic female groups in different ways regarding incidence and mortality. Much is known about the factors increasing the risk of developing breast cancer, but little is known about those that increase the chances of dying from it, other than access to health care, screening, and appropriate treatment. This study aimed to understand the association between exposure to Environmental Protection Agency-regulated air pollutants and breast cancer mortality, including how the interaction between these air contaminants impacts the outcome of interest, considering median income, education level, and percentage …


Marketing Efforts To Reengage Consumers In Cancer Screenings During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Angela M. Kasel Jan 2023

Marketing Efforts To Reengage Consumers In Cancer Screenings During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Angela M. Kasel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2020, U.S. hospitals became overwhelmed by patients with the viral illness COVID-19. Health systems were advised by the U.S. Surgeon General and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to suspend elective procedures, including mammograms, colonoscopies, and lung computed tomography scans. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate whether there was a significant difference in completed appointments, cancer screenings, and cancer diagnoses in consumers receiving targeted direct mail and email communications during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on age, gender, and geographic location. The elaboration likelihood model of persuasion, which emphasized the use of marketing to change consumer behaviors …


Environmental Factors And Breast Cancer Mortality, Joel Collazo Rodriguez Jan 2023

Environmental Factors And Breast Cancer Mortality, Joel Collazo Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer is a public health problem in the United States that impacts diverse ethnic female groups in different ways regarding incidence and mortality. Much is known about the factors increasing the risk of developing breast cancer, but little is known about those that increase the chances of dying from it, other than access to health care, screening, and appropriate treatment. This study aimed to understand the association between exposure to Environmental Protection Agency-regulated air pollutants and breast cancer mortality, including how the interaction between these air contaminants impacts the outcome of interest, considering median income, education level, and percentage …


Experiences Of Women In Sierra Leone Relating To Accessing Breast Cancer Treatment, Anne Neville Jan 2022

Experiences Of Women In Sierra Leone Relating To Accessing Breast Cancer Treatment, Anne Neville

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There has been a lack of consistent access to breast cancer care and treatment for women in developing countries, especially in Sierra Leone. Limited access to breast cancer care and treatment is a significant problem for women diagnosed in the later stages of the disease. The purpose of this research was to understand the experiences of women diagnosed with different stages of breast cancer, how they went about accessing breast cancer care and treatment, and how those experiences can be used to improve access to breast cancer treatment in Sierra Leone. Andersen and Newman’s healthcare utilization model guided the study’s …


Interrelationships Of Sociodemographic And Biological Factors In Breast Cancer Mortality Disparity Affecting Young Black Women, Richard Mutyabule Jan 2021

Interrelationships Of Sociodemographic And Biological Factors In Breast Cancer Mortality Disparity Affecting Young Black Women, Richard Mutyabule

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite improved overall survival among breast cancer patients, race and biological subtype-specific disparities persist. Subsequently, this retrospective longitudinal study, guided by ecosocial theory, examined associations between biological subtypes of breast cancer and patient-level sociodemographic factors on survival outcomes in women 25 to 44 years of age. Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, 34,007 breast cancer cases between 2013 and 2018 were extracted. Kaplan Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were used to examine time to event and the adjusted mortality risk by race and breast cancer subtype. There was a statistically significant difference in survival among young …


Breastfeeding Information And Breastfeeding Duration Among African American Women With A Family History Of Breast Or Ovarian Cancer, Aleatha Johnson Jan 2021

Breastfeeding Information And Breastfeeding Duration Among African American Women With A Family History Of Breast Or Ovarian Cancer, Aleatha Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Decades of research supports the notion that breastfeeding may help prevent breast and ovarian cancer in women. Women with a family history of these cancers are at greater risk. African American women have the lowest breastfeeding rates, yet the highest breast and ovarian cancer mortality rates. No studies have been conducted exploring the impact of being informed about breastfeeding from health care providers, breastfeeding support services, or family and friends and the relationship between their knowledge of family history of breast or ovarian cancer and breastfeeding duration for African American women. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine …


Effectiveness Of Cancer Survivorship Plans On The Emotional, Psychosocial, And Physical Well-Being Of Breast Cancer Survivors, Amber Renee Purdie Jan 2021

Effectiveness Of Cancer Survivorship Plans On The Emotional, Psychosocial, And Physical Well-Being Of Breast Cancer Survivors, Amber Renee Purdie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCancer survivorship is essential for the longevity of all cancer survivors, and breast cancer survivorship has become the focus of public health organizations to help address the unmet needs of breast cancer survivors. This quantitative cross-sectional study explored the impact on the Quality of Life (QoL) and health outcomes of female breast cancer survivors in cancer survivorship programs or tertiary care. The ages of the survivors in the study sample ranged from 18 to 80, and all participants were at least 6 months into their cancer survivorship journey. Surveys used were the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer’s …


Health Behaviors Of Fruit And Vegetable Consumption, Physical Activity, And Breast Cancer Among African American Women, Nicole Ekoue Jan 2020

Health Behaviors Of Fruit And Vegetable Consumption, Physical Activity, And Breast Cancer Among African American Women, Nicole Ekoue

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer incidence is suddenly increasing among African American women. Recent studies indicate that health behaviors are thought to confer important health benefits and have the potential to lowering breast cancer incidence. Guided by the social ecological model, the purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between health behaviors of fruit consumption, vegetable consumption, and physical activity and breast cancer after adjusting for age, body mass index, and smoker status. Social support and income level were assessed as modifiers. Using the 2012 to 2017 Health Information and National Trends Survey data, this study was conducted with …


Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms Knowledge And Breast Cancer In Texas, Ejike Roland Egwuekwe Jan 2019

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms Knowledge And Breast Cancer In Texas, Ejike Roland Egwuekwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer is a world health problem and is a leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. However, breast cancer risks were reported to be reduced through exposure to Vitamin D through its Receptors identified as the p53 target gene. The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between VDR gene polymorphisms knowledge/awareness and decisions to reduce breast cancer risks and likelihood of mammogram screening among women in Texas. Data from survey were used. Roy adaptation model was the theoretical framework that guided this quasi- experimental, quantitative research. The dependent variables were decisions to …


Examining Fear Of Recurrence In Cancer Survivors, Christina L. Dixon Jan 2019

Examining Fear Of Recurrence In Cancer Survivors, Christina L. Dixon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Improvements in the medical field have given many cancer patients and survivors better odds of long-term survival. As more patients become survivors, the demand for psychological treatment becomes greater. The most prevalent concern of survivors is getting help with a psychosocial condition known as fear of recurrence (FOR). Prior to this study, few researchers had explored how having a more aggressive cancer influences the development of FOR. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether cancer stage and type (a measurement of severity) are predictive of FOR development in the high-risk cancer groups lung and bronchus and female …


The Impact Of Exercise During Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer Patients, Diane Yu Jan 2019

The Impact Of Exercise During Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer Patients, Diane Yu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women. In 2017, breast, lung and bronchus, prostate, and colorectal cancers accounted for almost 50% of all new cancer cases in the United States. Breast conservation therapy with lumpectomy (i.e., surgery) and adjuvant radiation therapy is commonly used as treatment for early stage breast cancer. However, side effects such as pain and poor sleep quality can affect quality of life for breast cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment. The main purpose of this quantitative study, using the health belief model (HBM) theoretical framework, was to investigate the correlations between the …


Late-Stage Breast Cancer Diagnosis Among Haitian Women In The United States, Marie-Hortence Prosper Jan 2019

Late-Stage Breast Cancer Diagnosis Among Haitian Women In The United States, Marie-Hortence Prosper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death among women. While a significant amount of research has been done to understand the different disparities related to this disease, there is still more to learn about the relationship between a person's nationality and the staging of breast cancer. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program as the data source, this retrospective cohort study was aimed at assessing late-stage breast cancer among Caribbean immigrants, specifically comparing Haitian women with Americans and other immigrant populations in the United States. The research questions addressed the link between nationality and the likelihood of …


Perceptions And Behaviors Of Caribbean And South American Women Of Color Living In The United States Towards Breast Cancer, Bernadette Serena Loncke Jan 2016

Perceptions And Behaviors Of Caribbean And South American Women Of Color Living In The United States Towards Breast Cancer, Bernadette Serena Loncke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer is a global public health issue, and even though the incidence and mortality rates for this disease have declined, a substantial gap in mortality rates between U.S. women of color and European American women remains. Strategies have been initiated to decrease this gap, but they have not addressed the special needs of women of color residing in the United States, who tend to be diagnosed only after they have developed late-stage breast cancer. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions and behaviors of 20 first-generation Caribbean and South American-born women of color living in …


Assessment Of Her2-Neu In Breast Cancer Lines Upon Differential Exposures To Xenoestrogens, Abha Aggarwal Jan 2016

Assessment Of Her2-Neu In Breast Cancer Lines Upon Differential Exposures To Xenoestrogens, Abha Aggarwal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Synthetic xenoestrogens have differential estrogenic properties. Research has shown that exposures to xenoestrogens could promote breast cancer by disrupting normal function of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) gene. Although animal models demonstrated a connection between xenoestrogen exposure and Her2 activity, no study using human cells has systematically examined their carcinogenic potential influencing the Her2 gene expression. Furthermore, breast cancer cells are phenotypically disparate (ER+, Her2+), with some phenotypes (Her2+), leading to more aggressive disease. This study aimed to dosimetrically assess the carcinogenic potential of commonly used xenoestrogens influencing Her2 gene expression, and delineate cellular phenotypes at greater …


Identifying The Beliefs And Barriers To Mammography In Rural African Women, Linda Harper Mangum Jan 2016

Identifying The Beliefs And Barriers To Mammography In Rural African Women, Linda Harper Mangum

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in African-American (AA) women and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States among AA women ages 40 to 55 years of age. The 5-year breast cancer survival rates for AA women (78%) are lower than are those of Caucasian women (90%). The purpose of this project was to describe the benefits and barriers toward screening mammograms for breast cancer in AA women living in the Southside Health District in Virginia. The subscales of The Champion's Mammography Beliefs and Attitudes Questionnaire (MBAQ, 1999), which is based on the …


Time To Diagnosis Of Second Primary Cancers Among Patients With Breast Cancer, Edward Okezie Irobi Jan 2016

Time To Diagnosis Of Second Primary Cancers Among Patients With Breast Cancer, Edward Okezie Irobi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many breast cancer diagnoses and second cancers are associated with BRCA gene mutations. Early detection of cancer is necessary to improve health outcomes, particularly with second cancers. Little is known about the influence of risk factors on time to diagnosis of second primary cancers after diagnosis with BRCA-related breast cancer. The purpose of this cohort study was to examine the risk of diagnosis of second primary cancers among women diagnosed with breast cancer after adjusting for BRCA status, age, and ethnicity. The study was guided by the empirical evidence supporting the mechanism of action in the mutation of BRCA leading …


Barriers To Breast Cancer Prevention And Screening Among African American Women, Abosede Francisca Obikunle Jan 2016

Barriers To Breast Cancer Prevention And Screening Among African American Women, Abosede Francisca Obikunle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer is a serious illness that often has fatal consequences. Adherence to the recommendations for breast cancer surveillance is poorly practiced among African American women. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to seek individual professed barriers to breast cancer screening among African American women to better understand why breast cancer continues to be one of the principal basis of mortality among African American women. The theoretical framework for this study was the behavioral model of health services use. Purposeful selection was used to invite 14 African American women to participate in the in-depth interview process. Interview data were …


The Experience Of Survivorship: Quality Of Life For African American Breast Cancer Survivors, Angela L. Grimmett Jan 2016

The Experience Of Survivorship: Quality Of Life For African American Breast Cancer Survivors, Angela L. Grimmett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American breast cancer survivors are at a greater risk of experiencing disparities in mortality, treatment, and quality of life. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the impact that breast cancer had on the quality of life of African American breast cancer survivors from a psychosocial, physical, spiritual, and economic perspective. Face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted with 9 volunteers who met the eligibility criteria of being breast cancer survivors of African American decent. The sample of survivors ranged in ages 45 to 80 and was between 6 to 30 years postdiagnosis. Giorgi's phenomenological method was used to …


Mri As An Adjunct To Conventional Mammography Screening For Cancer In Dense Breast Tissue, Rachel Sunmattie Connett Jan 2015

Mri As An Adjunct To Conventional Mammography Screening For Cancer In Dense Breast Tissue, Rachel Sunmattie Connett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diagnostic methods to effectively image dense breast tissue (DBT) can pose challenges for breast cancer screening. While conventional mammography is the gold standard for breast cancer screening, this technique has a low sensitivity to DBT and can miss about 78% of cancers in DBT, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has a high sensitivity for imaging DBT, and produces a smaller number of false positives. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which conventional mammograms can miss breast cancer in women with DBT and to determine if an adjunct method of imaging DBT might detect breast cancers …