Exploring the experiences of patients with breast cancer from diagnosis through management

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the role of communication between the physician and women with breast cancer, and to examine women’s coping mechanisms from diagnosis through the management of the illness to its resolution. A qualitative methodology was utilised, with purposive sampling of participants from a public hospital in the Western Cape. A semi-structured interview was used to gather the data, after which a thematic analysis was conducted. The findings reveal the information exchange between physician and patient was clear, direct and understandable. Furthermore, the participants coped by accessing and using support from family and friends, by recourse to spirituality and prayer (bargaining with God, questioning of God), and by developing a positive attitude, with hope for recovery and acceptance. There were also emotional and psychological reactions from women in the sample when they received their diagnoses. This study may provide valuable insights into the experiences of women with stages I to III of breast cancer