Living the experience of breast cancer treatment: The younger women‘s perspective

Abstract

Objective: To explore the experience of breast cancer for young women under fifty years of age and describe their personal experience of coping with breast cancer treatment.

Design: An interpretive qualitative design was used to explore the experience of breast cancer in a young women’s life. A purposive sample of six women completed in‑depth interviews. A thematic analysis of the transcripts generated several themes relating to their personal journey through breast cancer treatment.

Setting: The setting for this study was an oncology outpatient’s setting in a large private hospital in Queensland, Australia.

Subjects: Six women aged between 28 and 45 years of age with a diagnosis of breast cancer in the last 12 months.

Results: Treatment for breast cancer began so quickly following diagnosis leaving little time to adjust to the concept of a life threatening disease. The severity of the effects from treatment influenced the women’s sense of person and ability to care for family. Fatigue, nausea and early onset menopausal changes were particularly troubling. Women described a positive resolve to survive.

Conclusions: Treatment concerns for younger women are qualitatively different from those of older women. They consider they are too young to assume ‘the sick role’ and are not prepared for its sudden onset, neither are their support networks. The right kind of support can assist younger women and their families to cope during the early stages of diagnosis and intervention.