BMI, physical activity, and breast cancer subtype in white, black, and Sea Island breast cancer survivors.

Higher BMI, lower rates of physical activity (PA), and hormone receptor-negative breast cancer (BC) subtype are associated with poorer BC treatment outcomes. We evaluated the prevalence of high BMI, low PA level, and BC subtype among survivors with white/European American (EA) and African American (AA) ancestry, as well as a distinct subset of AAs with Sea Island/Gullah ancestry (SI). We used the South Carolina Central Cancer Registry to identify 137 (42 EAs, 66 AAs, and 29 SIs) women diagnosed with BC and who were within 6-21 months of diagnosis. We employed linear and logistic regression to investigate associations between BMI, PA, and age at diagnosis by racial/ethnic group. Most participants (82%) were overweight/obese (P=0.46). BMI was highest in younger AAs (P=0.02). CDC PA guidelines (≥150min/week) were met by only 28% of participants. The frequency of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative BC subtype was lower in EAs and SIs than in AAs (P<0.05). This is the first study to identify differences in obesity and PA rates, and BC subtype in EAs, AAs, and SIs. BMI was higher, PA rates were lower, and frequency of ER-negative BC was higher in AAs as compared to EAs and SIs. This study highlights the need to promote lifestyle interventions among BC survivors, with the goal of reducing the likelihood of a BC recurrence. Integrating dietary and PA interventions into ongoing survivorship care is essential. Future research could evaluate potential differential immune responses linked to the frequency of triple negative BC in AAs.

Recruiting colorectal cancer survivors to a surveillance study: Barriers and successful strategies.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates are increasing. Effective strategies to recruit CRC survivors to surveillance studies are needed. OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the barriers encountered while recruiting CRC survivors to a study assessing their surveillance care experiences. METHODS: The study included three phases: (I) focus groups/key informant interviews; (II) cognitive interviews; and (III) a statewide population-based telephone survey. PARTICIPANTS: In Phases I-II, clinic-based data and cancer center registries were used to identify CRC survivors who had received CRC resection within the past 18 months. In Phase III, survivors who had received CRC resection within the past two years were identified via a statewide, population-based cancer registry. RESULTS: In Phase I, 16 survivors participated in focus groups at two National Cancer Center-affiliated sites (response rate=29.6%). Eighteen additional survivors participated in individual interviews (response rate=50%). In Phase II, 11 survivors participated in cognitive interviews (response rate=81.8%). In Phase III, 150 survivors participated in the statewide survey (response rate=62.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Group-based/in-person recruitment efforts were unsuccessful due to scheduling barriers, lack of transportation, and remaining discomfort from previous resection surgery. Telephone-based data collection strategies produced higher response rates. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: To enhance CRC surveillance research, future studies could incorporate CRC survivor-centered recruitment strategies.

Evaluating the reliability of the Attitudes to Randomized Trial Questionnaire (ARTQ) in a predominantly African American sample.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reliability of the Attitudes to Randomized Trial Questionnaire (ARTQ) in measuring perceptions of cancer clinical trials in a predominantly African American (AA) sample in South Carolina (SC). METHODS: Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cronbach's alpha estimates were used to assess the reliability of the ARTQ in a convenience sample of 315 participants (81.4 % AA) who were recruited from 2008 to 2013, and who live in eleven different counties in South Carolina with high rates of racial disparities in cancer mortality rates. RESULTS: Slightly more than half of the 315 participants had at least a college education (77.9 %), 84.8 % were female, and 53.1 % had an annual income of $40,000 or more. In this study, PCA confirmed that the ARTQ is unidimensional. Cronbach's alpha for the ARTQ was 0.86. CONCLUSION: The ARTQ displayed strong evidence of high statistical reliability. This analysis has great implications for future research because it represents the first test of reliability of the ARTQ in a predominantly African American sample and lays the groundwork for use of the ARTQ in future studies in diverse populations.