A qualitative study on experiences and needs of breast cancer survivors in Karnataka, India

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women worldwide and it is found to be increasing. Breast cancer survivors are threatened with various problems due to disease itself or its treatment and might exist for a long period even after treatment. The existing knowledge on experiences and needs among breast cancer survivors in India is very limited. The present study aimed to explore the experiences and needs of breast cancer survivors. Methods: In the present study qualitative study design was used and 17 breast cancer survivors, post six months of completed cancer treatment were selected using purposive sampling technique. In-depth interviews were conducted, the data was transcribed and translated and codes and theme were developed. Results: The study explored the needs and experiences of breast cancer survivors. The experiences of breast cancer survivors were as follows; awareness, psychological expressions, spirituality and misconceptions, economic burden, confinement, body image and bashfulness, maintaining secrecy, family support and physical burden. The needs of breast cancer survivors were identified as financial, informational, breast reconstruction surgery, help in household activities, family support, counseling and emotional support. Conclusion: Recognizing the experiences and needs of the breast cancer survivors by the family members, health care workers, community members and policy makers after the end of treatment is important to facilitate optimal delivery of health care at the community settings to improve the quality of life of breast cancer survivors.

A health care labyrinth: perspectives of caregivers on the journey to accessing timely cancer diagnosis and treatment for children in India

“…Of the few qualitative studies regarding cancer care in India [19–21], the focus has not been on paediatric oncology and the caregiver’s perspective, although the barriers identified were similar to studies mentioned above. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to enrich the existing literature by interviewing caregivers of children with cancer and understanding their perspective on barriers to accessing care, which may be at the personal level or health system level.…”

Which is More Difficult? Losing Hair or Losing Breast: A Qualitative Study

“…This is because the hair symbolizes femininity in many societies. Similarly, it has been reported in various studies that women experiencing alopecia also experience loss of femininity, sexuality, attractiveness, and self-confidence [13,[41][42][43][44][45]. Abu-Helalah et al evaluated the quality of life of women with breast cancer and determined that the lowest quality of life scores were obtained from sub-dimensions of body image and future anxiety.…”

The Disease Process Experiences of Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in the Psycho-Social Context

“…About the findings for the response of inability to accept the diagnosis, there are similar findings in the literature. Many studies show that when women with breast cancer hear about the diagnosis, they do not want to accept this situation and think that it is impossible (Çömez & Karayurt, 2016;Dsouza et al, 2018). They do not accept the treatment because they do not accept the disease (Hajian et al, 2017), and they think that they have misunderstood the situation (Lie et al, 2018).…”

“…Due to the diagnosis of breast cancer, women experience intense stress; their lives are negatively affected; and they may perceive this disease as destruction (Taleghani et al, 2006). The literature findings also show that, from the moment they learn about their disease, women cannot accept the disease (Çömez & Karayurt, 2016;Hajian et al, 2017;Dsouza, et al, 2018;Lie et al, 2018); they feel hopeless (İnan et al, 2016) and sorry for being diagnosed (Tunç, 2014;İnan et al, 2016;Hammoudehet al, 2017;Lam et al, 2018), like they are near death (ALmegewly et al, 2019;Ghaemi et al, 2019); they perceive their body negatively (Landmark & Wahl, 2002); their quality of life decreases (Yeter et al, 2009); they can experience emotional distress, problems in family and social relationships (Babacan Gümüş, 2006), anxiety, and depression (İnan et al, 2016;Hammoudeh et al, 2017;Dsouza et al, 2018); and, they can perceive the disease as a threat to female identity (Özkan & Alçalar, 2009). Thus, all the adaptation skills of women who have to struggle with all these negative physical and psychological effects brought on by the disease are shaken, which leads them to review their whole life and make new arrangements to readapt to this stressful situation (Moadel et al, 1999).…”