Challenges, Coping Strategies, and Social Support among Breast Cancer Patients in Ghana

Table 2

Experience of challenges among women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Responses/items	Mean	SD	SR
Physical symptoms such as fatigue, trouble sleeping, or pain, weight gain, burnout	3.35	1.01	Sometimes
Fear of recurrence	3.73	1.20	Often
Feelings of vulnerability	3.21	1.14	Sometimes
Body image disruption	3.36	1.33	Sometimes
Intrusive thoughts about illness	3.68	1.09	Often
Marital/partner communication issues	2.58	1.41	Sometimes
Sexual dysfunction	2.71	1.41	Sometimes
Experience of threats to safety	3.22	1.21	Sometimes
Reduced sexual interest and decreased sexual function.	2.80	1.39	Sometimes
Depression and anxiety	3.95	1.15	Often

SR, summary response; SD, standard deviation. Responses: 1 = never; 2 = rarely; 3 = sometimes; 4 = often; 5 = always. Challenges faced by women diagnosed with breast cancer measured using a questionnaire of 10 items, that is, possible challenges faced.