“I Will Not Be Defined by This. I’m Not Going to Live Like a Victim; It Is Not Going to Define My Life”: Exploring Breast Cancer Survivors’ Experiences and Sense of Self

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-360
Author(s):  
Elly Rashidi ◽  
Romana Morda ◽  
Wally Karnilowicz
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Identity Transformation ◽  
Psychological Ownership ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
The Impact

A life-threatening disease such as breast cancer with its pervasive nature of uncertainty can lead to feelings of disempowerment. Nonetheless, survivors may reconstruct their identity within optimism and a celebration of a new self. In this qualitative constructionist study, we explored survivors’ experiences, meaning-making, and identity transformation. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 11 women who identified as breast cancer survivors. Participants were aged 35 years old or above and were in post-diagnosis for at least 3 years. Interview data were collected and analyzed using thematic techniques. We identified three master themes: Diseased Self, focused on emotional distress and the presentation of a façade; Coping Self, explored resilience and post-traumatic growth; and Transformed Self, engaged in presentations of self-image, meaning-making, and psychological ownership addressing survivorship and empowerment. The findings may be used to inform guidelines and support for cancer survivors considering the impact of diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment experiences on self-identity.

scholarly journals Meaning Making for Psychological Adjustment and Quality of Life in Older Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Nilsen ◽  
Ragna Stalsberg ◽  
Kari Sand ◽  
Gørill Haugan ◽  
Randi Johansen Reidunsdatter
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sleeping Problems ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Follow Up Care

Objectives: This study aims to explore in depth the meaning and meaning discrepancies among older Norwegian breast cancer survivors in light of the meaning making model by Park (2013).Design: We utilized a qualitative design collecting data using semi-structured interviews of 23 elderly breast cancer survivors 7–8 years after treatment. The interviews followed an interview guide structured along three main themes: “everyday life activities,” “follow-up-care experiences” and “health status and QoL.”Results: Several health problems were reported by the women in the aftermaths of the disease, such as sleeping problems, pain, and fatigue—including cognitive and emotional impairments. Meaning discrepancies were concentrated on six main themes: shifting perspectives and priorities, growing sense of autonomy, widening the limits of normality, dissociating oneself from the disease, embracing alternative health services, and feeling lucky. The women engaged in a wide range of coping techniques as efforts to change global meaning, and to develop a more positive view on the cancer experience. Common coping efforts across the six main themes were social comparison, denial, positive reappraisal, problem-focused coping, and revaluing ordinary events.Conclusion: Many cancer patients report on unmet needs for help with their meaning making, and the facilitation of meaning making processes is rarely included in the follow-up care of cancer survivors. The findings of the present study may help health care professionals provide care for women who have experienced breast cancer. The concrete knowledge of common coping efforts in the meaning making process may contribute to the development of future interventions and for gaining a deeper understanding for older survivors of breast cancer.

scholarly journals The impact of cognitive impairment on self‐regulatory styles in breast cancer survivors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline H. Becker ◽  
Charlotte Ezratty ◽  
Nusrat Jahan ◽  
Mita Goel ◽  
Yael Tobi Harris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Regulatory Styles ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Randomized Exercise Trial of Aromatase Inhibitor–Induced Arthralgia in Breast Cancer Survivors

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (10) ◽  
pp. 1104-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda L. Irwin ◽  
Brenda Cartmel ◽  
Cary P. Gross ◽  
Elizabeth Ercolano ◽  
Fangyong Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Strength Training ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Usual Care ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Joint Pain ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Pain Scores ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Arthralgia occurs in up to 50% of breast cancer survivors treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and is the most common reason for poor AI adherence. We conducted, in 121 breast cancer survivors receiving an AI and reporting arthralgia, a yearlong randomized trial of the impact of exercise versus usual care on arthralgia severity. Patients and Methods Eligibility criteria included receiving an AI for at least 6 months, reporting ≥ 3 of 10 for worst joint pain on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and reporting < 90 minutes per week of aerobic exercise and no strength training. Participants were randomly assigned to exercise (150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise and supervised strength training twice per week) or usual care. The BPI, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire were completed at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Intervention effects were evaluated using mixed-model repeated measures analysis, with change at 12 months as the primary end point. Results Over 12 months, women randomly assigned to exercise (n = 61) attended 70% (± standard deviation [SD], 28%) of resistance training sessions and increased their exercise by 159 (± SD, 136) minutes per week. Worst joint pain scores decreased by 1.6 points (29%) at 12 months among women randomly assigned to exercise versus a 0.2-point increase (3%) among those receiving usual care (n = 60; P < .001). Pain severity and interference, as well as DASH and WOMAC pain scores, also decreased significantly at 12 months in women randomly assigned to exercise, compared with increases for those receiving usual care (all P < .001). Conclusion Exercise led to improvement in AI-induced arthralgia in previously inactive breast cancer survivors.

scholarly journals The impact of age on changes in quality of life among breast cancer survivors treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 636-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
E J Bantema-Joppe ◽  
G H de Bock ◽  
M Woltman-van Iersel ◽  
D M Busz ◽  
A V Ranchor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Conserving Surgery ◽  
The Impact

Divorce after breast cancer diagnosis and its impact on quality of life

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Danbee Kang ◽  
Nayeon Kim ◽  
Gayeon Han ◽  
Sooyeon Kim ◽  
Hoyoung Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
After Cancer ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objective This study aims to identify factors associated with divorce following breast cancer diagnosis and measures the impact of divorce on the quality of life (QoL) of patients. Methods We used cross-sectional survey data collected at breast cancer outpatient clinics in South Korea from November 2018 to April 2019. Adult breast cancer survivors who completed active treatment without any cancer recurrence at the time of the survey (N = 4,366) were included. The participants were classified into two groups: “maintaining marriage” and “being divorced,” between at the survey and at the cancer diagnosis. We performed logistic regression and linear regression to identify the factors associated with divorce after cancer diagnosis and to compare the QoL of divorced and nondivorced survivors. Results Approximately 11.1/1,000 of married breast cancer survivors experienced divorce after cancer diagnosis. Younger age, lower education, and being employed at diagnosis were associated with divorce. Being divorced survivors had significantly lower QoL (Coefficient [Coef] = −7.50; 95% CI = −13.63, −1.36), social functioning (Coef = −9.47; 95% CI = −16.36, −2.57), and body image (Coef = −8.34; 95% CI = −6.29, −0.39) than survivors who remained married. They also experienced more symptoms including pain, insomnia, financial difficulties, and distress due to hair loss. Conclusion Identifying risk factors of divorce will ultimately help ascertain the resources necessary for early intervention.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Visuospatial Memory and Coping Strategies in Breast Cancer Survivors

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. BCBCR.S6957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Ayala-Feliciano ◽  
Jaime J. Pons-Valerio ◽  
José Pons-Madera ◽  
Summer F. Acevedo
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Psychosocial Adaptation ◽  
Visuospatial Memory ◽  
Neurocognitive Deficits ◽  
Immediate Memory ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Background In the US there are over 2.5 million breast cancer survivors (BCSs), most of whom have required some type of intensive treatment. How individuals cope with the treatment process may relate to why neurocognitive problems arise. Method We explored the impact of treatment for breast cancer (BC) on performance of the Memory Island task, both on working memory and on the general index of cognitive performance in relation to coping strategies of BCSs compared to age-matched controls. Results The evidence obtained suggests a reduced performance in visuospatial memory in BCSs. Those who used emotional coping strategies displayed reduced performance in visuospatial learning and immediate memory. Those women who used problem-focused coping strategies performed better in those tasks measuring psychomotor speed, general intelligence, and delayed visuospatial memory. Conclusions It is concluded that further investigation of the relationship between coping strategies and performance on visuospatial tasks may provide useful information on residual levels of neurocognitive deficits and psychosocial adaptation in BCSs.

A Qualitative Exploration of the Impact of Yoga on Breast Cancer Survivors with Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Arthralgias

EXPLORE ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Lou Galantino ◽  
Laurie Greene ◽  
Benjamin Archetto ◽  
Melissa Baumgartner ◽  
Paula Hassall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Aromatase Inhibitor ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Qualitative Exploration ◽  
The Impact
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