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KMID : 0613620200400010090
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Health Social Welfare Review
2020 Volume.40 No. 1 p.90 ~ p.123
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Living After Diagnosis of Middle-Aged and Elderly Breast Cancer Survivors at Early Stages
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Park So-Young
Noh Eun-Joeng
Koo Hyang-Na
Baek Jung-Yun
Park Hyang-Kyun
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Abstract
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This qualitative study aims to comprehensively understand the post-diagnosis lives experienced by middle-aged and elderly breast cancer survivors at early stages. A single focus group interview (FGI) was conducted with a total of eight breast cancer survivors. Based on thematic analyses of the FGI discussions, the following five themes emerged: first, changes in attitude toward life (living life without looking back before diagnosis, now caring for myself and others), second, a weakened self in falter facing during the treatment process (the journey of ongoing care, unfamiliar changes in appearance, the coexistence of negative and positive emotions), third, a loneliness experienced in family relationships (family members who do not sympathize with my pain, a patient as a mother and homemaker who is responsible for nurturing family members and managing household affairs), fourth, changes in relationship (estranged friends, fellow patients who are more like my family, and medical teams who are intimate with me but also make me a little disappointed) and fifth, a way to live (accepting my illness and letting people know that I have cancer, finding and utilizing relevant resources, maintaining vitality). Based on the results of the study, we suggested implications for social work practice and policy measures to support the psycho-social adaptation of middle-aged and elderly breast cancer survivors at early stages throughout the treatment and recovery processes.
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KEYWORD
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Breast Cancer, Cancer Survivors, Psychological Adjustment, Focus Groups
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