Researchers at the BC Cancer Agency and the Kwantlen University College are embarking on a new research project to better understand the experiences of Punjabi speaking women with breast cancer. It is the first study in British Columbia to focus on how Punjabi speaking women with breast cancer problem-solve. The study will be based at the BC Cancer Agency’s Fraser Valley Centre. 

Breast cancer is a major health concern for all women as it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer. It is important that health practices meet the needs of all women, and that they be culturally sensitive. 

"There is very little literature available on Punjabi speaking women and health issues especially in relation to problem-solving," said Richard Doll, the study’s principal investigator and leader of the BC Cancer Agency’s Cancer Rehabilitation Network. "We need to ask ourselves if current practices in providing support and education in health care are adaptable to the needs of Punjabi speaking women." 

The research study, funded by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, will involve focus groups with Punjabi women. Trained Punjabi-speaking consellors will determine women’s experience throughout the course of cancer.  Co-investigators of the study are Gina Mackenzie, Balbir Gurm, and Joanne Stephen. Some of the participants will be new patients; some will have been in treatment for a period of time while others will have completed treatment. Participants will be asked a series of open-ended questions about cancer (including their beliefs and knowledge about cancer) and their experiences with conventional as well as complementary and alternative therapies. 

"We would like to know what kinds of things would have been useful to Punjabi speaking women in their care and treatment," Doll explained. "This information will be used as a foundation for later phases of research where methodologies will capture a larger patient sample size." 

It is important that patients and health professionals are able to work through some of the challenges that present themselves during the treatment process. These include language barriers, a patient’s interpreter filtering or misinterpreting medical information, and in some cases, a patient’s desire to maintain the "appearance" of health in their community. 

One in ten women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, assuming she lives to age 80. An estimated 2,600 women in B.C. will develop breast cancer in 2001 and 630 are expected to die. 

Data on the number of new cases of breast cancer among South Asian women living in Canada is limited because breast cancer registries do not collect information regarding ethnicity.  However, there has been an increased incidence of breast cancer reported among women living in India suggesting that breast cancer is a significant health problem for South Asian women in Canada. 

News flash: Recruitment is now underway for the study –  A Community Development Project for South Asian Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer and their Family Caregivers: An Exploratory Study. 

Punjabi women who have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, those who are undergoing treatment now or have undergone treatment for breast cancer in the past, are invited to contact Sarb at 587-4304, Fraser Valley Cancer Centre, for information on participating in the study. 

The BC Cancer Agency is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. The BC Cancer Research Centre conducts research into the causes and cures for cancer. The BC Cancer Foundation has a mandate to raise funds to support the work of the Agency and Research Centre. 

For more information, please contact:
Papinder Rehncy
Public Relations
Phone: (604) 877-6098 Ext. 2378
E-mail: PRehncy@bccancer.bc.ca