School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
Cancer Nurs. 2012 Mar-Apr;35(2):157-63. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0b013e31821cadde.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Western Australia, with negative psychological impacts exacerbated for younger women. Many women survive 5 years following diagnosis, suggesting more young women and their families will be living with its ongoing effects for longer periods. Diagnosis and treatment impact a woman's identity as a mother, but limited research exists from the women's perspective.
The aim of the study was to explore the impact of breast cancer on the identities of young women as "mothers."
A qualitative research design using conversational in-depth interviews and guided by a social constructivist paradigm was used. In-depth interviews were undertaken with 8 young women who were living with breast cancer and had dependent children. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed.
Biographical disruption as described by Bury provided the analytical framework for interpretation of data. Four themes, "diagnosis and disruption," "maintaining normality," "continuing the mothering role," and "experiencing survivorship," reflect women's experiences of identity reconstruction in the context of living with breast cancer.
A breast cancer diagnosis precipitates complex changes in a woman's identity as a mother. A woman's postdiagnosis identity invariably integrates a changed prediagnosis identity and that of "breast cancer patient" and "survivor." The relationship between the 3 is dynamic and in constant tension.
Routine practice should include acknowledgement that an identity as mother exists alongside "patient." Questions to women about children and any concerns and issues they may have should also be routine.
在澳大利亚西部，乳腺癌是女性中最常见的癌症，对年轻女性的心理影响更为严重。许多女性在诊断后能存活 5 年，这意味着更多的年轻女性及其家庭将在更长的时间内承受其持续影响。诊断和治疗会影响女性作为母亲的身份，但从女性的角度来看，相关研究有限。
本研究旨在探讨乳腺癌对年轻女性作为“母亲”的身份认同的影响。
采用定性研究设计，采用对话式深入访谈，并以社会建构主义范式为指导。对 8 名患有乳腺癌且有依赖子女的年轻女性进行了深入访谈。访谈进行了录音、转录和分析。
伯里（Bury）描述的传记性中断为数据解释提供了分析框架。四个主题，“诊断和中断”、“维持正常状态”、“继续母亲角色”和“经历生存”，反映了女性在患有乳腺癌的情况下重建身份的体验。
乳腺癌诊断会导致女性作为母亲的身份发生复杂变化。女性的诊断后身份不可避免地整合了改变前的身份以及“癌症患者”和“幸存者”的身份。这三种身份之间的关系是动态的，并且始终处于紧张状态。
常规实践应包括承认母亲的身份与“患者”并存。向女性询问有关孩子的问题以及她们可能存在的任何担忧和问题也应成为常规做法。
