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A Qualitative Research to Examine Experiences of Turkish Women with Breast Cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

C. Yastibaş
Affiliation:
Dokuz Eylül University, Psychology Department, İzmir, Turkey
G. Dirik
Affiliation:
Dokuz Eylül University, Psychology Department, İzmir, Turkey
İ.G. Yilmaz-Karaman*
Affiliation:
Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Psychiatry Department, Eskişehir, Turkey
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Breast cancer is a serious public health problem and one out of every 4 women diagnosed with cancer is breast cancer. Although the survival rate has increased due to advances in diagnosis and treatment, getting a cancer diagnosis is a highly stressful life event and seriously affects the lives of patients.

Objectives

Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study is to explore the experiences of women with breast cancer.

Methods

Data were gathered using semi-structured forms, in-depth interviews with 7 patients aged between 29 and 64 who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and after. All interviews were tape-recorded and the themes have resulted in analyzing the content of the recorded data.

Results

It has been determined that women have difficulties in getting information from healthcare professionals, emotional supports from their partners and family members, dealing with losses in roles and femininity, and coping with intrusive thoughts. However, it has been highlighted that women have experienced some positive changes in certain areas such as deeper interpersonal relationships with others, appreciating health and life.

Conclusions

As a result of the study, it has been thought that it is important to reduce the distress level of women with breast cancer related to their needs and difficulties and to encourage their positive changes. Besides, working in cooperation with healthcare professionals responsible for their treatment will be beneficial to reduce the distress level of the women.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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