摘要
<strong>Background:</strong><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span> Despite increasing cancer incidence among young Latinas (<50 yrs.) in the US, little is known about how young, child-rearing Latinas cope with cancer in the US-Mexico border region. </span><b><span>Objective:</span></b><span> The purpose of this study was to explore how young, child-rearing Latinas described their chal</span><span>lenges, strengths, and social support sources for coping with cancer in the</span><span> US-Mexico border region. </span><b><span>Methods:</span></b><span> Nine Latinas that had been diagnosed with cancer, had at least one child 5 to 13 years old, and lived in one of two targeted border counties participated in audio-recorded, semi-structured focus groups (n = 6) or interviews (n = 3) in their preferred language (</span><i><span>i.e.</span></i><span>, English or Spanish). Interview recordings were transcribed and inductively coded us</span><span><span>ing methods based on grounded theory. </span><b><span>Results:</span></b><span> Three major themes</span></span><span> emerged. First, in reporting their physical and emotional struggles with cancer as the most difficult time of their lives, participants described feeling alone as they navigated treatment side effects and continued fear of cancer. Second, they explained figuring out how to live day-by-day, reporting the negative impact </span><span>of cancer on their families and on their ability to maintain their roles as</span><span> mothers. Third, they highlighted factors that gave them the strength to fight and carry on, emphasizing their children and their inner strength. </span><b><span>Conclusions:</span></b><span> Even with a supportive family, young Latina mothers felt alone as they navigated cancer (</span><i><span>i.e.</span></i><span>, treatment, fear, and impact on their families) and as they worked to garner the strength to overcome the stress of cancer. Inter</span><span>ventions for young Latina survivors should be designed to address their</span><span> ne
<strong>Background:</strong><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span> Despite increasing cancer incidence among young Latinas (<50 yrs.) in the US, little is known about how young, child-rearing Latinas cope with cancer in the US-Mexico border region. </span><b><span>Objective:</span></b><span> The purpose of this study was to explore how young, child-rearing Latinas described their chal</span><span>lenges, strengths, and social support sources for coping with cancer in the</span><span> US-Mexico border region. </span><b><span>Methods:</span></b><span> Nine Latinas that had been diagnosed with cancer, had at least one child 5 to 13 years old, and lived in one of two targeted border counties participated in audio-recorded, semi-structured focus groups (n = 6) or interviews (n = 3) in their preferred language (</span><i><span>i.e.</span></i><span>, English or Spanish). Interview recordings were transcribed and inductively coded us</span><span><span>ing methods based on grounded theory. </span><b><span>Results:</span></b><span> Three major themes</span></span><span> emerged. First, in reporting their physical and emotional struggles with cancer as the most difficult time of their lives, participants described feeling alone as they navigated treatment side effects and continued fear of cancer. Second, they explained figuring out how to live day-by-day, reporting the negative impact </span><span>of cancer on their families and on their ability to maintain their roles as</span><span> mothers. Third, they highlighted factors that gave them the strength to fight and carry on, emphasizing their children and their inner strength. </span><b><span>Conclusions:</span></b><span> Even with a supportive family, young Latina mothers felt alone as they navigated cancer (</span><i><span>i.e.</span></i><span>, treatment, fear, and impact on their families) and as they worked to garner the strength to overcome the stress of cancer. Inter</span><span>ventions for young Latina survivors should be designed to address their</span><span> ne
