Table 2.

Findings from Qualitative Analysis: Final Code Descriptions and Representative Examples

CODE	DESCRIPTION	EXAMPLES
Diagnosis and Testing	Characteristics of the respondent’s breast cancer and tests used to better understand the breast cancer or the respondent’s risk of cancer	“Cancer was very small.” “I feel that my breast cancer was diagnosed very early.” “Oncotype DX.” “I had DCIS Stage 0.”
Treatment	Respondent’s perception of cancer treatments’ effectiveness or of healthcare providers’ abilities in regard to providing treatment	“I think chemo + radiation took care of all the cancer.” “Because it was fully removed.” “I had clear margins” “Because I trust my Drs.”
Uncertainty	Respondent is uncertain herself, perceives cancer or life to be unpredictable or uncertain, or believes there is a 50/50 chance	“I don’t know.” “Just a guess.” “Always a chance.” “50/50 chance.”
Personality Traits and Emotions	Respondent’s personality, emotions, or attitude	“Positive thinking.” “I am trying to be as optimistic as possible.” “I hope it doesn’t spread.” “Just worry about it coming back.”
Communication with a Clinician	Clinicians’ opinions or comments about the respondent’s cancer or information provided by clinicians	“It is what I was told.” “% the doctor said it could come back.” “What I was given by oncologist.” “Information from my doctor.”
Current and Future Health	How the respondent currently feels as well as her lifestyle or surveillance/prevention behaviors	“I have made lifestyle changes.” “Because I am generally healthy.” “Because of my age.” “I get regular check-ups and mammograms.”
Spirituality, Religion, and Faith	Any mention of God, religion, or faith	“Because of my faith in God.” “Faith.” “I pray to God that it does not come back.” “‘I believe in God’s healing.”
Family and Personal History	Past family or personal experiences with cancer or the lack thereof, or personal experiences that the respondent feels are related to her breast cancer	“Family history.” “No family history.” “Because on my mother’s side of the family there have been several kinds of cancer.” “Get cancer once, you have a higher risk of getting elsewhere.”
Statistics, Research, and Stories of Others	Sources of information not explicitly said to be from healthcare providers: statistics, research, and stories of friends and other non-family members	“Based on research I have done.” “After reading information.” “I have known people that it has come back in different places.” “That is what stats showed in comparable situation.”
Other	A response that is uncommon and does not warrant the creation of a new code, and/or does not allow clear placement into a code	“Because it’s low.” “Because that’s what I think.” (Other miscellaneous responses that were even less common)