Couples dealing with breast cancer - the role of husbands in supporting their wives

Abstract

Aim: The main goal of the article is to showcase how husbands performed the role of caregivers for their wives after breast cancer diagnosis. The researchers analysed this issue by comparing the perspectives of the male caregivers with their wives' opinions. The wives were active members of Amazon clubs. Background: Partners of women with breast cancer are expected to assume responsibility for taking care of their wives. Simultaneously, however, they are not prepared to fulfil their new duties, nor are they being provided with any professional support in this regard. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight married couples, separately with wives and husbands. Results: Husbands perceive their role in their wives' struggles as primarily supportive and channel any negative emotions via undertaken actions. They support their wives in four ways: by focusing on their wives' feelings and caring about her, taking part in the healing process, managing the household during the period of their wives' recovery, and by bringing back normalcy into their lives. Conclusions: Limited knowledge about oncological diseases, deficiencies in the assistance services offered to husbands of women with breast cancer and stereotypes about gender roles contribute to the difficulties men face when taking care of their sick wives. Even the wives active participation in the Amazon movement does not seem to mitigate their problems.

Designing and validating an adaptation questionnaire among the husbands of Iranian Muslim women with breast cancer

“…However, other studies indicated that husbands considered their supportive role a priority in the treatment of their wives and made genuine attempts to direct their negative emotions through the measures they took. They supported their wives through focusing on their emotions and taking care of them, cooperation in the recovery process, management of the family, and helping them return to normal life ( 37 ).…”

Experiences of Spouses of Women with Breast Cancer: A Content Analysis

“…The results of the Youssef et al, (2012) and Mentford et al, (2016) studies also showed that husbands of women with breast cancer had a supportive role for their wives. With regard to the romantic spiritual meditation, husbands of women with breast cancer supported them by focusing on their women's feelings and providing appropriate relevant care (Zierkiewicz and Mazurek, 2015). Duggleby et al, (2012) also found that husbands of women with breast cancer mentally supported their wives.…”

“…Duggleby et al, (2012) also found that husbands of women with breast cancer mentally supported their wives. With regard to therapeutic romantic meditation, husbands of breast cancer women participated throughout their women's healing process (Zierkiewicz and Mazurek, 2015). With regard to the romantic-sexual meditation and spiritual-romantic meditation, mental challenges were also one of the themes obtained in a qualitative study carried out by Youssef et al, (2012) who examined experiences of husbands with breast cancer, because these women induction they were no longer attractive to their husbands and had negative inductions in this regard.…”

“…To confirm the trauma to role playing, Montford et al, (2016) showed in a study that some experiences of spouses of women with breast cancer included their altered roles and participation in household chores. Husbands of women with breast cancer also managed all household chores throughout the treatment period (Zierkiewicz and Mazurek, 2015). Alacacioglu et al, (2014) also writes that spouses of cancer patients face numerous problems, including work-related and lifestyle distress, and poor quality of life.…”

Mutual Learning Among Teachers in the School Space

“…Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady of the United States, who is considered a pioneering advocate for caregiving, has said: "There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers". In Poland, chronically ill people continue to experience systemic deprivation in terms of their needs for support and assistance from public institutions and specialists, which means that a patient primarily relies on the support of their family -who in turn are unprepared for care, incompetent, overburdened and experiencing anxiety, helplessness and frustration (Taranowicz, 2001;Świętochowski, 2010;Zierkiewicz & Mazurek, 2015;Zierkiewicz, 2019). This type of care, in contrast to that provided by qualified staff, is referred to as informal care.…”