Lifestyle change experiences among breast cancer survivors participating in a pilot intervention: A narrative thematic analysis.

PURPOSE

Healthy lifestyle adoption among breast cancer (BC) survivors remains a poorly understood process. This study aimed to qualitatively examine the unique change trajectories of BC survivors who partook in a pilot version of the Healthy Lifestyle Modification After Breast Cancer (HLM-ABC) intervention.

METHODS

A sample of four BC survivors were studied intensively through longitudinal interviews conducted at four time points with each participant: (1) pre-treatment, (2) mid-way treatment, (3) post-treatment, and (4) three-months following their participation in the HLM-ABC. A multiple-case study, narrative analysis was applied to 15 interviews, resulting in individual narratives as well as shared 'thematic intersections' elucidating cross-participant experiences.

RESULTS

The findings showed that participants offered unique styles of authorship, characterized by diverse struggles, victories, and motivational insights, organized around the following intersecting themes: (1)Weight management prescription as a motivator or deterrent, (2) 'Time for me' is time away from my family, and (3) Patterns of opposition to lifestyle change. These women's rich, storied accounts suggest experiences of personal growth and imply that existential concerns can be both motivating and deterring in relation to health behavior change.

CONCLUSION

This research provides a comprehensive and nuanced grasp of healthy lifestyle modification in the survivorship stage of BC.