Ojewale, Margaret O. and Nwozichi, Chinomso and Maitanmi, Julius Olatade and Maitanmi, Bukola Titilope and Gaknung, Bonji Kopdimma (2023) How Women Construct Their Identities as Breast Cancer Survivors. International Journal of Cancer, Clinical Inventions and Experimental Oncology, 4 (1). pp. 1-16. ISSN ISSN 2059-1160(Print),ISSN 2059-1179(Online)
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Abstract
Breast cancer is a life-threatening disease that has a pervasive nature of uncertainty which can lead its victims to a feeling of segregated and disempowerment. These victims often reconstruct their identity of a new self, depending on their experience. The aim of this study is to find out how women construct their identities as breast cancer survivors. A qualitative phenomenological study design was used. Twenty-two BC survivors were selected purposively from Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) breast cancer clinic using a snowball sampling technique and data was collected using an unstructured one-on-one interview with an open-ended questions interview guide. The Data collected was analysed using structural analysis and in-depth interpretation of meaning. The findings revealed that the participants, each, had their construct about their identities concerning BC treatment outcome. Their responses demonstrated 3 categories of identity as the outcome, thus: as the outcome: survivors, victims and uncertain group. These self-identification and interpretation of BrCa experience were found to be influenced by a cascade of factors cumulating as experiences through the 3 stages in the journey. The study concluded that despite the identification of the participants in this study as survivors by the researchers, the participants have their own constructed self-identity based on the outcome of their BrCa treatment. Therefore, the use of the word “survivor” to identify women who have suffered from BrCa and have undergone treatment, is a way of enlightening the women on the choice of Identification they can use they reflect successful treatment and a more emotionally supportive means to maintain a healthy new lifestyle for the rest of their life.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | R Medicine > R Medicine (General) |
| Depositing User: | Professor Mark T. Owen |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Apr 2023 13:26 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Apr 2023 13:26 |
| URI: | https://tudr.org/id/eprint/1705 |
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