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. 2024 Jan;13(2):e6969.
doi: 10.1002/cam4.6969.

Cancer and the family: Variations by sex and race/ethnicity

Charlotte Asiedu  1 , Nicole S McKinney  2 , Alliric I Willis  3 , Frances M Lewis  4 , Shannon Virtue  5 , Adam Davey  1
Affiliations

Cancer and the family: Variations by sex and race/ethnicity

Charlotte Asiedu et al. Cancer Med. 2024 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Cancer affects patients and their families, but few data are available on factors associated with diversity of family structures among patients with cancer. Family is a source of both support and responsibility that must be understood to support patients and their families.

Methods: Pooled data (2004-2015) from the National Health Interview Study were used to compare characteristics of cancer survivors with and without minor children and differences by sex and race/ethnicity among survivors with minor children.

Results: 13.9% of cancer survivors have minor children in the household, and this experience is more likely for women and people who identify as other than non-Hispanic White.

Conclusion: There are considerable differences by sex and race/ethnicity in the characteristics of cancer survivors with minor children. Clinicians should make consideration of family circumstances a routine part of their history. Doing so will help to identify potential sources of support and responsibility that may affect adherence.

Keywords: adolescents; cancer survivors; children; family life cycle; kinship networks; parents.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors report no conflicts.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
STROBE diagram for analytic samples.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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