Breast and prostate cancer survivors’ understanding of risk and management of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal side effects of treatment: findings from focus groups

TL;DR

This study explores how breast and prostate cancer survivors understand and manage long-term side effects of treatment on their heart and musculoskeletal health.

Contribution

The study reveals gaps in how long-term treatment side effects are communicated to cancer survivors.

Findings

Survivors were rarely informed about long-term treatment effects.

Participants wanted more personalized information about side effects.

Few received guidance on managing long-term side effects.

Abstract

Survival after a cancer diagnosis is improving, increasing the importance of understanding and managing long-term treatment-related adverse effects. This study aimed to understand breast and prostate cancer survivors’ understanding of how cancer treatment may affect cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health.

Australian breast and prostate cancer survivors treated with therapies with known cardiovascular adverse effects were recruited via a private cancer care provider. Participants completed an online background questionnaire, then participated in a focus group. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, then analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

In total, 26 cancer survivors (15 breast, 11 prostate; mean age 67 years) participated in one of seven focus groups. Three major themes were developed: 1) Focus is on the here and now, not the future—participants were infrequently told that their cancer treatment can have negative long-term effects; 2) Wanting individualised delivery of side-effect information—participants received varying types and amounts of information about side effects, but it was not delivered in a way that best suited them; and 3) Left wondering how to best manage side effects—few participants were provided with information about how to manage long term side effects, despite wanting this information.

Important information about long-term side effects of cancer treatment, and how to manage them, was inconsistently provided to breast and prostate cancer survivors. Information about long-term treatment side effects should be delivered in a flexible, individualised way to better enable cancer survivors to understand the risk and engage in preventative health behaviours.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00520-025-09642-z.