Experiences from having breast cancer and being part of a support group. Notes written in diaries by women during radiotherapy

Understanding the subjective experiences of South African women with recurrent breast cancer: A qualitative study

This study explored the subjective experiences of 12 South African women diagnosed with recurrent breast cancer. Women were invited to take part in unstructured narrative interviews, and to complete a diary in which they could reflect on their breast cancer experiences. Most responded to their recurrence with an optimistic stance. Religious beliefs and support structures were important coping strategies. Women's perceptions of their changed bodies varied from being of least concern, to becoming the most distressing aspect. The findings highlight the complexity of illness experience and the different ways in which women make sense of a second episode of cancer.

The Experiences and Support Needs of Women With Gestational Breast Cancer in Singapore: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Gestational breast cancer is diagnosed during pregnancy or within the first postpartum year. There is a lack of studies on the experiences of ethnically diverse Asian women with gestational breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of Asian women with gestational breast cancer so necessary support can be rendered.

METHODS

This qualitative descriptive study used purposive sampling to recruit 7 women with gestational breast cancer who were following up at the breast center of a tertiary women's hospital in Singapore. Semistructured, individual, face-to-face, audio-recorded interviews were used to explore the in-depth experiences of these women. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three main themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (1) being a sick woman, (2) juggling between being a mother and a patient, and (3) seeking normalcy. Women had to contend with disruptive changes from gestational breast cancer, both emotionally and physically. They were constantly distressed by their altered body images, and family support was vital to help these women cope with their treatments. Alternative support sources included healthcare professionals and the Internet.

CONCLUSION

Gestational breast cancer experiences varied based on the women's encounter perceptions and existing support. Their experiences may be improved through further support to mediate their coping efforts. Future quantitative and qualitative research should explore and evaluate the various aspects of the long-term disease and psychosocial effects of gestational breast cancer.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Hospitals should include support strategies in antenatal classes and postnatal workshops to lessen disruptions of the motherhood experiences.

Women's stories of living with breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative evidence

RATIONALE

Globally, breast cancer is by far the most frequently occurring cancer amongst women. Whilst the physical consequences of the disease and associated treatments are well documented, a comprehensive picture of how breast cancer is experienced at all stages of disease progression is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aimed to synthesize qualitative studies documenting women's breast cancer narratives into an empirically based explanatory framework.

METHODS

Two investigators independently searched Academic Search Premiere, CINAHL, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, MEDLINE, PsycARTICLES, PubMed, Science Direct, SCOPUS, Web of Science and three international dissertation repositories using a pre-specified search strategy to identify qualitative studies on women's breast cancer narratives across all geographic and income-level settings. Of the 7840 studies that were screened for eligibility, included in the review were 180 studies, which were assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. Using a 'meta-study' approach, an explanatory model of the breast cancer experience was formulated. Finally, we assessed the confidence in the review findings using the 'Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research' (CERQual) guidelines.

RESULTS

Eight core themes were identified: the burden of breast cancer, existential ordeal, illness appraisal, sources of support, being in the healthcare system, the self in relation to others, changes in self-image, and survivor identity. Together, these form the proposed Trajectory of Breast Cancer (TBC) framework.

CONCLUSION

The Trajectory of Breast Cancer explanatory framework offers a theoretically defensible synthesis of women's experiences of breast cancer. This framework provides an empirical basis for future reviewers conducting qualitative and narrative breast cancer research.

Sharing experiences in a support group: men's talk during the radiotherapy period for prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

Prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers in men, is often treated with radiotherapy, which strains both physical and mental health. This study aimed to describe the experiences of men living with prostate cancer shared within conversational support groups during a course of radiotherapy.

METHOD

Nine men participated in one of two groups that met six or seven times, led by a professional nurse. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify themes and subthemes in the recorded group conversations.

RESULTS

The analysis resulted in six themes: living with a changing body, being in the hands of others, learning to live with the disease, the importance of knowledge, everyday life support, and meeting in the support group. The men discussed a wide variety of bodily experiences and described support from healthcare professionals, relatives, friends, and the support group as crucial to their recovery.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

Meeting men in a similar situation, sharing experiences of living with the disease, and feeling allied to each other were important to the men in our study. The conversational support group provided the patient with prostate cancer a forum where sharing was made possible.