Dr. McAneny studies how women with breast cancer navigate their treatment journey, particularly the obstacles they face in accessing care. She examines critical factors like emotional support, health insurance challenges, and the financial burden associated with cancer treatment. Additionally, her research explores the effectiveness of high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell support in different stages of breast cancer, aiming to enhance survival rates and overall patient satisfaction. Her studies address various aspects of breast cancer care, from initial diagnosis to advanced treatment methods.
Key findings
In her 2021 study, 180 breast cancer patients reported an average score of 1.90 on access issues and an average satisfaction score of 4.59, indicating they were mostly satisfied with their care despite some barriers.
Her 1999 study on inflammatory breast cancer showed a 72% survival rate over three years after high-dose chemotherapy, although 43% of participants experienced a relapse within 18 months.
In another 1999 study, 74% of patients with five to nine positive lymph nodes were still alive after approximately 4.5 years, which was significant compared to previous expectations of worse outcomes.
In a 1998 study reviewing dosage effects of filgrastim, patients receiving higher doses collected an average of 1.2 million stem cells per apheresis, compared to 0.7 million from lower doses.
A 1997 study found that 46% of untreated stage IV breast cancer patients were alive after about 31 months, highlighting differences based on prior treatment types and disease severity.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. McAneny study breast cancer treatment?
Yes, she focuses on breast cancer treatment access and outcomes, particularly in how chemotherapy and stem cell support can improve survival rates.
What barriers do breast cancer patients face according to Dr. McAneny's research?
Her research identifies challenges such as obtaining detailed information about care, emotional support, health insurance issues, and financial costs as major barriers for breast cancer patients.
Is Dr. McAneny's work relevant for patients with advanced breast cancer?
Yes, she conducts studies specifically addressing treatment strategies and outcomes for patients with advanced stages of breast cancer.
Publications in plain English
Exploring access to care from the perspective of patients with breast cancer: A qualitative study.
2022
Cancer medicine
Brown CM, Kanu C, Richards KM, Stevens L, Sasane R +1 more
Plain English This study looked at the experiences of women with breast cancer as they tried to access care. Researchers interviewed 12 women and held focus groups with 48 others, identifying six key challenges: getting detailed information, receiving emotional support, dealing with health insurance issues, managing financial costs, ensuring timely treatment, and handling emotional stress. Understanding these challenges is important because improving these areas could help breast cancer patients receive better care throughout their treatment journey.
Who this helps: This benefits breast cancer patients and healthcare providers.
Evaluation of access to care issues in patients with breast cancer.
2021
Journal of medical economics
Brown CM, Richards KM, Vohra Y, Kanu C, Stevens L +3 more
Plain English This study looked at how easily women with breast cancer can access care and how that affects their overall satisfaction with their treatment. Out of 180 patients surveyed, most reported low barriers to accessing care (an average score of 1.90), and they were generally very satisfied with their care (an average score of 4.59). However, those who experienced more access issues tended to be less satisfied, highlighting that even small barriers can significantly impact patient experiences.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with breast cancer by addressing their needs for better access to care.
News and Notes From the 2009 Carrier Advisory Committee Meeting: Medical Necessity, Off-Label Chemotherapy, and More.
2009
Journal of oncology practice
McAneny B, Marsland T, King K
Plain English This paper discusses a meeting where experts talked about important topics related to cancer treatment. They focused on whether insurance should cover anticancer drugs used in ways not officially approved (called off-label uses) and the need for oral anti-nausea medications compared to those given through an IV. These discussions are crucial because they can affect patient access to necessary treatments and how they manage side effects.
Who this helps: This helps cancer patients and their doctors.
Adjuvant dose-intense chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell support in stage II-III breast cancer with five to nine involved axillary lymph nodes.
1999
American journal of clinical oncology
Schwartzberg LS, Birch R, Tauer KW, Leff R, Greco FA +7 more
Plain English This study looked at the effects of high-dose chemotherapy supported by stem cell treatment in breast cancer patients with five to nine positive lymph nodes. Out of 43 participants, 74% are still alive after about 4.5 years, and 65% have not had a relapse. Importantly, patients with fewer positive lymph nodes (five to nine) had similar survival outcomes as those with ten or more positive nodes, challenging previous assumptions about their prognosis.
Who this helps: This research benefits breast cancer patients with a moderate number of affected lymph nodes by providing insights into their treatment options and survival chances.
High-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell support for stage IIIB inflammatory carcinoma of the breast.
1999
Bone marrow transplantation
Schwartzberg L, Weaver C, Lewkow L, McAneny B, Zhen B +4 more
Plain English This study focused on 56 patients with an aggressive type of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer. It found that after high-dose chemotherapy, 91% of the patients had to stay in the hospital for an average of 11 days, and 43% experienced a relapse within 18 months. The overall survival rate after three years was 72%, indicating that while the treatment has significant benefits, there is still a need for better strategies to prevent relapses.
Who this helps: This helps patients with inflammatory breast cancer and their doctors by providing insight into treatment outcomes.
Mobilization and harvesting of peripheral blood stem cells: randomized evaluations of different doses of filgrastim.
1998
British journal of haematology
Weaver CH, Birch R, Greco FA, Schwartzberg L, McAneny B +7 more
Plain English This study looked at how different doses of a drug called filgrastim affect the collection of important blood stem cells in breast cancer patients. Researchers found that patients receiving higher doses (30 or 40 microg/kg) collected more stem cells compared to those on lower doses (10 microg/kg), with the median number of stem cells rising from 0.7 million to 1.2 million per apheresis. This finding matters because using higher doses can lead to better results in collecting enough stem cells needed for treatments.
Who this helps: Patients undergoing stem cell collection for breast cancer treatment.
Induction, mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC), high-dose chemotherapy and PBSC infusion in patients with untreated stage IV breast cancer: outcomes by intent to treat analyses.
1997
Bone marrow transplantation
Weaver CH, West WH, Schwartzberg LS, Alberico T, Leff R +8 more
Plain English This study looked at how a specific treatment approach involving chemotherapy and stem cell infusion worked for 114 patients with untreated stage IV breast cancer. They found that about 46% of these patients were still alive after about 31 months, but only 18% had no disease progression. The results show that this treatment is more effective for patients without prior aggressive treatments or those with only bone disease, highlighting the need for better strategies for those with more severe cases.
Who this helps: This research helps doctors understand how to better treat patients with advanced breast cancer.