Adherence Barriers to Breast Cancer Treatment: Fragmentation of Care, Mood Disorders, and Substance Use Disorder

Abstract

Case: The patient is a premenopausal, recently divorced 40-year-old female with a history of alcohol use disorder, anxiety, and depression. She presented with a 3-month history of a palpable right sided breast mass and was found to have Stage IIB/IIIA ER+ PR+ invasive ductal carcinoma of her right breast. She successfully completed preoperative therapy followed by a right mastectomy. She subsequently had a relapse in her alcohol use disorder and since then has had inconsistent and incomplete radiation treatment. Her substance use led to the loss of her job, custody of her children, and social support.

Conclusions: We identified four primary barriers to adherence to cancer treatment: fragmentation of care, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and substance use disorder. As a result of these mental health and systemic communication challenges, her treatment was discontinued and her care team lost her in follow-up.

Clinical Significance: As many as 28% of breast cancer patients do not complete their recommended treatment, which increases risk for recurrent breast cancers. Discontinuation of and non-adherence to therapy for breast cancers are associated with increased mortality. Among breast cancer patients who have difficulty adhering to chemotherapy treatment, a common barrier is fragmentation of care. Studies have also indicated that anxiety and depression may play explanatory roles in non-adherence to breast cancer treatment. Prevalence of depression is as high as 24% among breast cancer patients. Furthermore, rates of co-occurrence of substance use disorders in cancer patients can reach up to 35%. Substance use disorders, including alcoholism, have been associated with increased rates of non-adherence and discontinuation of hormonal treatment in individuals with ER+ breast cancer diagnoses. Interventions addressing the occurrence of mental illness and fragmented cancer care are important steps in increasing adherence among these patients.