Schmid-Büchi Silvia, Dassen Theo, Halfens Ruud J G
Zentrum für Entwicklung und Forschung Pflege, Universitäts Spital Zürich, Zürich, Schweiz.
Pflege. 2005 Dec;18(6):345-52. doi: 10.1024/1012-5302.18.6.345.
Women experiencing breast cancer are confronted with a live threatening disease and find themselves in a situation that changes and restricts their life psychologically, physically and socially. This qualitative investigation examined the experience of living with breast cancer from the perspective of newly diagnosed women. Ten women were interviewed at the end of their radiotherapy. The interviews are analysed with the method of content analysis. The findings show three domains. First domain: From living in fear of having breast cancer to the confirmation of its diagnosis. These women perceive the confirmation of the diagnosis as a shock and initially plunge into an existential crisis. The life threatening disease with an unpredictable future, feelings of vulnerability, uncertainty, hopelessness and anxiety often make them depressed. They need all their energy to maintain control over their life, by suppressing emotions to protect themselves from overwhelming feelings and suffering. Second domain: Experiencing the therapy. The women undergo weakening aggressive and invasive treatment regimes, leaving them in a condition worse than before. Physically exhausted, they sometimes don't know how to go through and overcome this time. Lack of energy, tiredness and fatigue are ongoing problems. Being diagnosed with breast cancer, the suddenly become patients, having to cope with a complex healthcare system. From doctors and nurses they expect empathy, caring and expertise. When in contact with health care, they often hide their suffering, while in fact, they are extremely vulnerable and in deep despair. Third domain: Hold out and live. Women living with breast cancer have no choice but to go through this situation. By motivating their self they regain and mobilise their vital energy. They try to suppress their suffering and dark, intrusive memories. Support from relatives is very important, however, such women tend to protect them from their suffering. The definition of the role of these relatives and their suffering remain unclear. In a future study, research is needed to determine precisely which psychosocial variables are effective in promoting greater health for women with breast cancer and their families, taking into consideration the dynamic of the relationship between women with breast cancer and their relatives as well as the influence of their mutual support.
患有乳腺癌的女性面临着一种危及生命的疾病，她们发现自己所处的状况在心理、身体和社会层面上改变并限制了她们的生活。这项定性研究从新确诊女性的角度审视了患乳腺癌后的生活经历。十位女性在放疗结束时接受了访谈。采用内容分析法对访谈进行了分析。研究结果呈现出三个方面。第一个方面：从对患乳腺癌的恐惧到确诊。这些女性将确诊视为一种冲击，最初陷入了生存危机。这种危及生命且前途未卜的疾病，伴随着脆弱感、不确定性、绝望和焦虑情绪，常常使她们感到沮丧。她们需要竭尽全力来掌控自己的生活，通过压抑情绪以保护自己免受难以承受的情感和痛苦折磨。第二个方面：经历治疗。这些女性接受的是削弱身体机能的激进且侵入性的治疗方案，这使她们的身体状况比治疗前更糟。身体疲惫不堪，她们有时不知如何熬过这段时期并战胜困难。精力匮乏、疲倦和乏力是持续存在的问题。被诊断出患有乳腺癌后，她们突然成为了患者，不得不应对复杂的医疗体系。她们期望医生和护士能给予同理心、关怀和专业知识。在与医疗体系接触时，她们常常隐藏自己的痛苦，而实际上，她们极其脆弱且深陷绝望之中。第三个方面：坚持并活下去。患有乳腺癌的女性别无选择，只能直面这种状况。通过自我激励，她们重新找回并调动起自身的生命力。她们试图压抑自己的痛苦以及黑暗、侵扰性的记忆。亲属的支持非常重要，然而，这类女性往往会保护亲属，不让他们承受自己的痛苦。这些亲属的角色定义以及他们的痛苦仍不明确。在未来的研究中，需要进行调查，以精确确定哪些社会心理变量能有效地促进乳腺癌女性及其家庭的健康状况改善，同时要考虑到乳腺癌女性与其亲属之间关系的动态变化以及他们相互支持所产生的影响。
