Fu Mei R, Xu Bo, Liu Yang, Haber Judith
College of Nursing, New York University, New York, USA.
J Adv Nurs. 2008 Jul;63(2):155-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04647.x.
This paper is a report of a study to describe Chinese women's experiences of adjusting to breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and its diagnosis and treatment are pivotal life-changing events that prompt women to make immediate adjustments. Adjustment to breast cancer has been studied as a way of coping with a stressful event and adapting to chronic illness. Adequate adjustment through coping and adaptation leads to successful completion of treatment and improved quality of life.
A descriptive phenomenological method was used, and 22 Chinese women were interviewed at a large cancer centre in Beijing, China, in 2004-2005.
Facing breast cancer, Chinese women tried to 'make the best of it'. The essences of Chinese women's experiences were: facing the reality of cancer diagnosis, taking an active part in the cancer treatment, sustaining an optimistic spirit, sustaining physically, lessening the impact of cancer on others, and reflecting and moving on. Chinese women had similar perceptions of breast cancer to women in western countries as a fearful, stressful, life-threatening and life-changing event, and some of their intentions and actions were also similar to western women's coping strategies. However, their experiences of adjusting to breast cancer also reflected Chinese historical, social and cultural influences.
Our findings have implications for healthcare professionals also in countries with Chinese migrants, and could be used as a basis for information and emotional and social support interventions as these can be effective in promoting adjustment to breast cancer.
本文报告一项描述中国女性适应乳腺癌诊断与治疗经历的研究。
乳腺癌是女性中最常见的癌症，其诊断和治疗是改变人生的关键事件，促使女性立即做出调整。对乳腺癌的适应已被作为应对压力事件和适应慢性病的一种方式进行研究。通过应对和适应实现充分调整可带来治疗的成功完成和生活质量的提高。
采用描述性现象学方法，2004年至2005年在中国北京的一家大型癌症中心对22名中国女性进行了访谈。
面对乳腺癌，中国女性试图“尽力而为”。中国女性经历的本质包括：面对癌症诊断的现实、积极参与癌症治疗、保持乐观精神、保持身体状态、减轻癌症对他人的影响以及反思并继续前行。中国女性对乳腺癌的认知与西方国家女性相似，认为这是一个可怕、有压力、危及生命且改变人生的事件，她们的一些意图和行为也与西方女性的应对策略相似。然而，她们适应乳腺癌的经历也反映了中国的历史、社会和文化影响。
我们的研究结果对有华裔移民的国家的医疗保健专业人员也有启示，可作为信息以及情感和社会支持干预措施的基础，因为这些措施在促进对乳腺癌的适应方面可能有效。
