Emotion work: disclosing cancer

Abstract

Introduction Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality for all women in the US. Current research has focused on the psychological relationship and not the sociological relationship between emotions and the experience of breast cancer survivors. This paper focuses on the emotion work involved in self-disclosing a breast cancer diagnosis in a racially or ethnically diverse population. Methods The participants (n=176) selected for this study were African American, Asian American, Latina, and Caucasian women who had been diagnosed with stages 0, I, or II breast cancer within the past 4 years. They completed an in-depth qualitative interview on self-disclosure and social support. Findings The results indicate self-disclosing was done at a time when important decisions about treatment needed to be made. Different strategies for disclosure were used, all of which entailed emotion work. Respondents talked about the various elements of emotion work in the disclosure process including: managing others' worry, protecting and soothing others, and educating and instructing others.. For many respondents, disclosure without calculating emotional management meant opening up to others which meant support and an increase in emotional resources. Conclusions The findings in this paper have implications for women with breast cancer and demonstrate the need for women to be involved in honest disclosure and less emotional management of others' feelings. There is also a need for education about the nature of the cancer experience among people who are not well educated about the treatment and consequences of cancer. This need may be even stronger among racial and ethnic minorities.

Social disclosure about lymphoedema symptoms: A qualitative study among Japanese breast cancer survivors

“…Within families, participants' decision-making was constrained by feelings of worries and guilt about family members, which was consistent with previous studies (Yoo et al, 2010;Yoshida et al, 2010). This may be because lymphoedema is not fatal and their swollen limbs were too visible.…”

“…Although most cancer patients in the USA tend to disclose their cancer status and worries to significant others (Henderson, Davison, Pennebaker, Gatchel, & Baum, 2002), Asians tend not to talk about their illness status if they take into account others' views. For example, Chinese in Australia tend not to report their cancer status and concerns to their parents if the patients do not want them to be worried or anxious (Yoo, Aviv, Levine, Ewing, & Au, 2010). Similarly, breast cancer (BC) patients in Japan inhibited SD when they worried about negative impacts on their children (Yoshida et al, 2010).…”

Association of Coping Style, Cognitive Errors and Cancer-related Variables with Depression in Women Treated for Breast Cancer

“…Chemotherapy or radiotherapy may have an unfavourable impact on depression and anxiety (29,30). In addition, patients need time to distance themselves from the stress of the treatment and to return to social life.…”

“…One of the most common psychological problems encountered by women with breast cancer in adjusting to the disease is depression (11,29). Chemotherapy or radiotherapy may have an unfavourable impact on depression and anxiety (29,30).…”

Self-Disclosure of Breast Cancer Diagnosis by Iranian Women to Friends and Colleagues

“…Many researchers agree that self-disclosure is important because speaking about cancer helps people to re-evaluate their ideas and perceptions and understand their experiences (Dagan et al, 2013).We use the term 'self-disclosure' to describe a situation in which cancer patients openly discuss their diagnosis and thoughts and feelings about their disease with others (Yoo et al, 2010;Van Der and El 2013).…”