The Meaning of Breast Cancer Risk for African American Women

Purpose: To describe African American women's experience of being at high risk for breast cancer. Design: A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used to guide in-depth interviews and analysis. Methods to ensure trustworthiness and rigor were included. Methods: Open interviews were conducted with 20 African American women who were at high risk for breast cancer (family history, personal history, genetic mutation). They were recruited from a cancer risk clinic and community-based settings. Data were transcribed verbatim, and themes were labeled among and between all interviews. Findings: Five themes were identified: (a) life-changing experience; (b) relationships: fears, support, and concerns;