A qualitative study on the experience of empowerment from the perspectives of breast cancer survivors

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among females globally.According to statistics, there were ~2.1 million new breast cancer cases and ~63,000 breast cancer deaths in 2018 (Bray et al., 2018).Female breast cancer is also the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, with 2.26 million cases having been diagnosed in 2020 (Ferlay et al., 2021). With the development of medical treatment, the 10-year survival rates among breast cancer now exceeds 90%, which has contributed to a statistically significant number of breast cancer survivors (Akechi et al., 2018). The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship of the United States regards cancer survivors as those who have undergone treatment after being diagnosed with cancer or those considered to be fully cured (Lee & Park, 2020). However, some reports about cancer survivors as those who have finished conventional therapy, such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy but includes those who have entered the follow-up period or the endocrine treatment period (Mao & Sun, 2015). In this study, we use this latter definition. Modalities of treatments for breast cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy and hormone therapy . After cancer treatment, some complications may persist for years, such as persistent pain (Juhl et al., 2016), breast cancer-related lymphedema (Ferguson et al., 2016), and sleep disturbance (Singer et al., 2018). Among breast cancer survivors, the

Women’s decision process when actively choosing to ‘go flat’ after breast cancer: a constructivist grounded theory study

“…The women participating in this study can all be described as empowered and seeking SDM. HCP have an important role in patients' ability to feel confident [19], as they can provide individually adapted information to facilitate empowerment [33]. It is important for patients to be empowered to enable them to make informed decisions and participate in care [33].…”

“…Self-efficacy is closely related to empowerment, which is a process of gaining strength, confidence and understanding in order to find solutions to a problem [16]. Empowerment can therefore be used to increase patients' autonomy and participation in their care [17], enabling them to identify which strategies result in feeling empowered and in control [18,19]. Peer support groups are found to be an important feature in the empowerment process among breast cancer patients [20].…”

The Significance of Religion and Spirituality Among Turkish Women Surviving Breast Cancer Without Treatment: A Qualitative Study

“…With advancements in healthcare, cancer has become a treatable disease, highlighting the significance of developing self-efficacy skills that encompass lifestyle changes. Therefore, the period following a cancer diagnosis calls for individuals with breast cancer to reevaluate their priorities and embrace a healthier lifestyle with the aim of improving their health (Luo et al, 2021).…”

Hope and psychological well-being after 5 years become breast cancer survivors: a Qualitative Study

“…Cancer patients who are optimistic about the future show increased positive emotional well-being and better control over their health (34), and can also improve their quality of life (35). Optimistic cancer survivors can find bright spots in their lives as opportunities for rebirth after experiencing this disease by increasing personal strength, accepting their situation, and having positive spiritual beliefs (36).…”