Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39508973›Full record

ArticleBreast cancer research and treatment2025

The experience of weight gain during and after breast cancer treatment: a qualitative study.

Carolyn Ee, Anna Singleton, Elisabeth Elder, Nikki Davis, Christine Mitchell, Tinashe Dune, Freya MacMillan, Kate McBride, Suzanne Grant

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Article in Breast cancer research and treatment, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Carolyn Ee *NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia. c.ee@westernsydney.edu.au.
Anna Singleton *Engagement and Co-Design Research Hub, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Elisabeth ElderWestmead Breast Cancer Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Nikki DavisPrimary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Christine Mitchell, Sydney, Australia.
Tinashe DuneSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Freya MacMillanSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Kate McBrideTranslational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Suzanne GrantNICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAfter breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, the majority of women will gain weight. The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of weight management among Australian women with breast cancer.

methodsThis is a secondary analysis of data from a qualitative study evaluating the feasibility of novel interventions for weight management after breast cancer. Participants were recruited via email invitation from a breast cancer consumer organization and breast cancer centre in Australia. Eligible participants had received treatment for breast cancer, and were fluent in English. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis with the constant comparison method.

resultsThirty-seven women provided data in five focus groups and one semi-structured interview. Four themes were identified: Timing, milestones and turning points; Making sense of the journey; Factors leading to weight gain; and Information and health professional support. Varying trajectories of weight gain were described, the most common being gradual or fluctuating weight gain. Weight gain was attributed to a number of related factors including becoming postmenopausal, and the impact of treatment effects. Achieving a sense of autonomy and agency assisted with weight management. An overall lack of information and support relating to weight management was highlighted.

conclusionsThere is a need for a coordinated and systematic approach to weight management after breast cancer. Further research on the role of supportive care and systems-level support is warranted to mitigate the significant public health burden of excess weight after breast cancer treatment.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsWeight GainAdultAgedAustraliaFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMiddle AgedQualitative Researchbreast cancersupportive caresurvivorshipweight gain

Identifiers

PMID39508973

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.