Living in It, Living With It, and Moving on: Dimensions of Meaning During Chemotherapy (original) (raw)
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Perception of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a comprehensive analysis
Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem
Objective: To comprehensively analyze the perception of women with breast cancer on the experience of undergoing chemotherapy. Method: This was a qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological study, supported by the Merleau-Ponty philosophy. It was conducted in a chemotherapy outpatient clinic with 20 participants who completed a phenomenological interview. Results: The phenomenological data analysis demonstrated that the perception of women about the experience of chemotherapy is about change, not only of the physical body, but of their identity, and that it considers existential aspects. Three categories emerged from the experience of alopecia, fatigue, and spirituality, respectively: the body itself, the current and habitual body, and transcendence. Final considerations: Bodily changes, and the existential implications perceived by the women in this study, analyzed from the Merleau-Ponty perspective, makes it possible to consider body concept, and provides support for humanized care...
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2002
Living with newly diagnosed breast cancer: a qualitative study of 10 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer Aim. The aim of this qualitative study was to describe from the perspective of 10 women (aged 39-69 years), their experience of living with breast cancer. Background. Although there is increasing research into a variety of aspects associated with breast cancer, there is a continuing need for research to increase nurses' understanding of how women experience living with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Design/methods. Following ethical approval, open-ended interviews were analysed, using methods influenced by Grounded Theory. Verifiability and empirical grounding of the theory was established through use of the constant comparative method. Findings. Existential issues arose as an important aspect of living with newly diagnosed breast cancer. The will to live emerged as the central theme. All energy was channelled into a tenacious fight for life. Furthermore, results revealed other aspects in the women's awareness of living with breast cancer, such as their experiences in relation to emotional reactions, bodily physical changes, their female identity, meaningful activities and their social network. Conclusions. An understanding of how women experience their new and changed life situation is important to the support nurses give in the process of healing. Nurses need this knowledge to be better able to assist women and their families in their development of coping strategies.
The Experience of Living With Breast Cancer and the Assessment of Needs and Expectations
Journal of Patient Experience, 2021
Living with a chronic disease constitutes a biographical reversal characterized by change and loss. The aims of this study are to conceptualize the meaning of breast cancer, of its burden, to explore the patient's needs and expectations while being admitted to a palliative care unit, and to evaluate the fulfillment of those expectations. Two semistructured interviews were conducted, audio taped, transcribed verbatim, and subjected to the qualitative method of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The first interview was conducted at the first visit of the patient to the palliative care unit, and the second after 2 weeks of receiving palliative care services. Qualitative findings indicated that the meaning of cancer can be interpreted as a transition of fading away. The transition began with redefining cancer from “my difficult moment” to “fortunately to its final destination”; struggling with the paradox of “the will to see the development of yourself and your child” and “wi...
Psikostudia: Jurnal Psikologi, 2022
Breast cancer is a malignant disease that most often occurs in women and provides a major change in their lives. Suffering, self-acceptance and finding the meaning of life are the main searches and objectives of this research. The aim is to describe the process of deep meaning in life that is felt by women with breast cancer after mastectomy. This study uses a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. Researchers get data by means of purposive sampling technique, interviews, and the willingness of the subject to be interviewed. The sample is 6 women with breast cancer. The findings in this study indicate that in the process of finding the meaning of life, the subject goes through several phases of life. The first phase is the suffering phase, the second phase is the self-acceptance phase. the third phase is the phase of finding the meaning of life, and the fourth phase is the phase of meaningful life. Women realize the importance of maintaining a healthy body and make big changes in their lives. Women take curative actions to reduce their suffering, then accept the reality and analyze how much wisdom they get after mastectomy. Breast cancer survivors realize their lives are more meaningful, think positively, accept their shortcomings, are more religious and are optimistic about their future.
Oncology Nursing Forum, 2012
Purpose/Objectives: To develop a substantive theory of the process of breast cancer survivorship. Research Approach: Grounded theory. Setting: A LISTSERV announcement posted on the SHARE Web site and purposeful recruitment of women known to be diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. Participants: 15 women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Methodologic Approach: Constant comparative analysis. Main Research Variables: Breast cancer survivorship. Findings: The core variable identified was Reclaiming Life on One's Own Terms. The perceptions and experiences of the participants revealed overall that the diagnosis of breast cancer was a turning point in life and the stimulus for change. That was followed by the recognition of breast cancer as now being a part of life, leading to the necessity of learning to live with breast cancer, and finally, creating a new life after breast cancer. Participants revealed that breast cancer survivorship is a process marked and shaped by time, the perception of support, and coming to terms with the trauma of a cancer diagnosis and the aftermath of treatment. The process of survivorship continues by assuming an active role in self-healing, gaining a new perspective and reconciling paradoxes, creating a new mindset and moving to a new normal, developing a new way of being in the world on one's own terms, and experiencing growth through adversity beyond survivorship. Conclusions: The process of survivorship for women with breast cancer is an evolutionary journey with short-and long-term challenges. Interpretation: This study shows the development of an empirically testable theory of survivorship that describes and predicts women's experiences following breast cancer treatment from the initial phase of recovery and beyond. The theory also informs interventions that not only reduce negative outcomes, but promote ongoing healing, adjustment, and resilience over time.
Exploration of Existential Issues: A Qualitative Study of Breast Cancer Women
Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences
The existing phenomenological study explored the existential issues of Pakistani breast cancer women. Moderately interviews were conducted to obtain information, which were digitally recorded and transcribed. Purposive sampling technique was employed to obtain a sample. Ten breast cancer-diagnosed women were included in this research. The qualitative information was investigated using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Personal Cluster and Social Cluster evolved from the statements of existential issues by breast cancer women. The clusters were further sorted into the following categories: Existential Anxiety, Death Anxiety, Meaninglessness, Hopelessness, Loneliness, Body Image Discomfort, Guilt, Loss of autonomy, Lowered Self-Esteem, Pessimistic, Abashment, Peace of Mind, Dissatisfaction, Personal Loss of Control, Mobility Loss, Personal Responsibility, Loss of Personal Identity, Loss of Personal Relationships, Demoralization, Shame, Disappointment, Loss of Female Identity, ...
The transitional experience of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer
Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 2019
The aim of the study was to provide insights into the transitional experience of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer progressing to their primary treatment. The psychosocial impact of patients in the recovery phase after breast cancer treatment has been investigated in recent years, however, little is known about the transition experience and psychosocial needs of Danish breast cancer patients during the phase of transition from diagnosis to treatment. This study employed a qualitative descriptive design with data collection including 12 semi-structured interviews with women undergoing radiation-or chemotherapy treatment. The transcribed interviews were analysed which identified five main themes; 1) Uncertainty, 2) Sense of powerlessness, 3) Sustaining normality, 4) Worrying about the future, 5) Fortunate only having radiotherapy. Understanding care needs of women in transition, from diagnosis to treatment, and how it impacts on their lives, is essential to enable health profe...
Transitional experiences of women with breast cancer within the first year following diagnosis
Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2010
Aims and objectives. To explore the experiences of 12 women with breast cancer, involved in a large longitudinal qualitative study designed to explore the experiences of people with cancer within the first year following diagnosis. Background. To understand experiences of breast cancer further as a chronic illness, this study draws on biographically informed and embodied perspectives of chronic illness. Design. Qualitative, longitudinal study. Method. Interviews were conducted at three time-points within the first year following diagnosis with 12 women with breast cancer. Drawing on the constant comparative method, a descriptive and thematic approach to data analysis was adopted. To move beyond the descriptive level, we drew on the concepts of biographical disruption and embodiment to further explore and explain the disruption that was evident in these women's lives as a result of their diagnosis. Results. Two key concepts emerged from the data: 'Identity Transition: moving between health and illness' and 'Making the Transition to the Future? Living with breast cancer and moving on'. Identity transition emerged as a result of the changes and adaptations participants were required to make as a result of their diagnosis. Making the transition to the future emerged as a result of the challenges these women faced living with cancer.
European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society, 2011
PURPOSE Women's experience of breast cancer treatment is a complex feature of survival which reflects and impacts upon the quality of their inter-personal relationships. We aimed to explore and present the issues and means through which these women relate their symptoms, treatments and effects. We utilised the 'cancer journey' as a heuristic device to chart women's experiences in the first year following diagnosis. METHOD Thirty-nine interviews were conducted over one year with a convenience sample of 10 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer recruited from a specialist oncology centre in England in 2005. Transcriptions of the interviews were analysed using a thematic narrative approach. RESULTS The findings suggested how women related coping and meaning to their experience of relationships, return to work, and self-management of breast cancer symptoms. The overwhelming impact of breast cancer was personal to each sufferer and yet reflects commonly reported treatme...
Everyday life in breast cancer survivors experiencing challenges: A qualitative study
Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2017
Background: Early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer results in an increasing number of survivors, some of whom face new challenges in their transition to daily life. Aim: Based on these experiences, the aim of this study was to describe the everyday life in breast cancer survivors experiencing challenges. Material and method: Eleven women recruited from a follow-up study of breast cancer patients participated in qualitative interviews about their everyday occupations seven years after ending treatment. The inductive analysis revealed ten categories that were organized into five subthemes under the two main themes 'bodily and mental loneliness' and 'new center of gravity in everyday life'. Results: Findings showed how relevant information and guidance; active support to the client and their relatives; and a balance between occupations at home and at work were important matters to handle their everyday life challenges. Conclusion and significance: By assisting these women in finding new patterns of meaningful occupations that positively affect their everyday life, the study suggests some central elements to be included in future follow-up practice for breast cancer survivors. Approaching this goal, occupational therapists should contribute to more involvement assisting cancer survivors and their partners in finding new patterns of meaningful occupations that positively affect their everyday life.