Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in females, affecting women of all ethnic groups. Until now, very little research has captured the psychosocial impact of the disease amongst Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) women, and that which has been conducted has been restricted to English-speaking participants. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of five Gujarati-speaking Indian women with regard to their breast cancer diagnosis and treatment; all five had Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and lived in the UK. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted in Gujarati, with the assistance of an interpreter.Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of the data revealed 3 key themes: making sense of the cancer, importance of support and body image concerns. The findings show that these women's experiences were influenced by culturally specific concerns, especially in relation to knowledge of breast cancer and language barriers. This study has implications for healthcare professionals in terms of providing culturally competent care and support to BME women with LEP.Keywords: Breast cancer, South Asian, Psychosocial, Indian, Gujarati, Non-English speaking What is known about this subject?• Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in all ethnic groups.• Black and Minority Ethnic groups are under-represented in the psychosocial breast cancer literature.• Potential participants who are not fluent in the English language are often excluded from research studies because of language barriers. What this paper adds• An in-depth understanding of the experience of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment amongst Gujarati-speaking Indian women with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).• Qualitative evidence that highlights the importance of providing information in patients' preferred language in order to provide the best possible care and support for those with LEP.• Support for previous research and policy calling for healthcare professionals to be aware of patients' cultural and language needs in order to provide them with culturally competent care and support.

This study enhances current understanding of the experience and impact of breast cancer amongst Black and South Asian women, and demonstrates similarities and differences between the ethnic groups. The findings highlight implications for healthcare professionals, particularly in relation to providing culturally sensitive care and support to their patients. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.