Abstract

An estimated 331,530 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 ("American Cancer Society," 2019, p. 10). The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological, descriptive study was to explore the lived experience of non-spousal close/intimate relationships of women with breast cancer. There are very few studies in the literature examining relationships between women with cancer other than those of partner or spouse. This study's participants consisted of six women, ages 32 to 68. Analysis of these data identified themes reflected along their breast cancer trajectory (1) The journey starts (2) Mid-journey passage, and (3) Journeys end/coming home, as well as nine subthemes. Findings of this study suggest support offered by non-spousal close/intimate individuals is a dynamic provision, by diverse support systems that change over time throughout the breast cancer continuum. Assessment of support required by women with breast cancer is especially important at the beginning of the breast cancer journey but then again at various intervals, for a holistic approach and provision of functional and structural support so desperately needed by women with breast cancer.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 13882295; ProQuest document ID: 2236384615. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Erin B. Dooley, PhD, RN, CBEC, CN-BN

Sigma Membership

Lambda Iota

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Phenomenology

Research Approach

Qualitative Research

Keywords:

Breast Cancer, Close/Intimate Relationships, Women, Psychological Well-Being, Physiological Well-Being, Support Needs

Advisor

Judith Lothian

Second Advisor

Marcia Gardner

Third Advisor

Munira Wells

Degree

PhD

Degree Grantor

Seton Hall University

Degree Year

2019

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2022-01-28

Full Text of Presentation

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