Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in Muslim women in Pakistan.The impact of the initial diagnosis, culture, religion and psychosocial and psychological aspects of the disease are not well established. This qualitative study examined the experience and coping strategies employed by breast cancer patients in relation to its impact on their physical, mental health, religious and family issues. Thirty breast cancer patients were interviewed. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. The patient experience of breast cancer focused on the range of emotions felt throughout the illness trajectory, the importance of religion and family support on coping strategies employed to manage the side effects of chemotherapy and also financial concerns. This is the first study to examine Pakistani Muslim women's views on the lived experience of breast cancer. This paper provides clarification of the voiced experiences of women with breast cancer. The data highlight the role of religion and family support as essential coping strategies, but also emphasize the issues of isolation, aggression and anger as common responses to chemotherapy. Unique features of this study are women's need to seek spiritual support for their illness and the overriding innate characteristic of maternal responsibility. These cultural features require further analysis and research.

A majority of adult cancer patients surveyed in this study wanted a truthful disclosure about their disease prognosis and expressed a preference for hospital-based care at end-of-life. Healthcare providers should find ways to tailor prognostic information to patients' expressed information needs.

No abstract