• Sue P Heiney, DeAnne K Hilfinger Messias, Tisha M Felder, Kenneth W Phelps, and Jada C Quinn.
• Palmetto Health, South Carolina Cancer Center, Columbia.
• Oncol Nurs Forum. 2017 Mar 1; 44 (2): 217-224.

Purpose/ObjectivesTo explore African American women's recollected experiences of breast cancer treatment.
.Research ApproachQualitative description and narrative analysis.
.SettingSouth Carolina Oncology Associates, an outpatient oncology clinic serving rural and urban populations.
.Participants16 African American women with breast cancer previously enrolled in the control arm (n = 93) of a completed randomized, controlled trial. 
.Methodologic ApproachFeminist narrative analysis of in-depth individual interviews.
.FindingsThe authors identified three themes within the African American breast cancer survivors' recollected experiences of treatment adherence.InterpretationAlthough little evidence was presented of shared decision making with providers, patients were committed to completing the prescribed therapies. The narratives highlighted the value of in-depth examination of patients' perspectives, particularly among minority and underserved groups. With the exception of voicing personal choice of surgical treatment, the women trusted providers' recommendations with a resolve to "just do it." Although trust may enhance treatment adherence, it may also reflect power differentials based on gender, race, education, and culture.
.Implications For NursingNurses should listen to patients describe their experience with cancer treatment and compare the themes from this study with their patients' story. This comparison will help nurses support patients through various aspect of diagnosis and treatment.

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