Ginter Amanda C
Department of Family Studies and Community Development, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA.
J Psychosoc Oncol. 2022;40(2):169-183. doi: 10.1080/07347332.2021.1914269. Epub 2021 Apr 26.
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: With a growing number of young women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in the United States, it is important to consider how their diagnoses affect their relationships with others. The dual identities of being young and having MBC create unique challenges for women's relationships. However, there is little extant research on the relationship experiences and needs of young women with MBC. The purpose of this study is to understand how young women describe their lived experiences with social and intimate relationships following their diagnoses of MBC.
A cross-sectional qualitative study with a life course theoretical framework was employed.
SAMPLE/PARTICIPANTS: Purposive sampling yielded nine participants who took part in semi-structured interviews. Phenomenology informed understanding of the lived experience of young women with MBC.
The findings describe how young women with MBC made meaning out of their relationships to other people following their diagnoses, via themes of feeling alienated from other women with breast cancer, friendship trajectories, managing intimate relationships, how much to share with children, losing the dream of (more) children, and finding a voice in the MBC community.
MBC links participants' lives to individuals from their preexisting relationships, new friendships, and the breast cancer community in irrevocable ways.
These findings present new information about the social and relationship needs of young women with MBC. Psychosocial providers and medical team members should not presume MBC patients' disinterest in fertility preservation.
目的/目标：在美国，患有转移性乳腺癌（MBC）的年轻女性数量不断增加，因此有必要考虑她们的诊断如何影响其与他人的关系。年轻且患有MBC这一双重身份给女性的人际关系带来了独特挑战。然而，目前关于患有MBC的年轻女性的关系经历和需求的研究很少。本研究的目的是了解年轻女性在被诊断为MBC后如何描述她们在社交和亲密关系中的生活经历。
采用了具有生命历程理论框架的横断面定性研究。
样本/参与者：目的抽样产生了9名参与半结构化访谈的参与者。现象学有助于理解患有MBC的年轻女性的生活经历。
研究结果描述了患有MBC的年轻女性在被诊断后如何通过与其他乳腺癌女性疏远的感觉、友谊轨迹、管理亲密关系、与孩子分享多少、失去（更多）孩子的梦想以及在MBC社区中找到自己的声音等主题，从她们与他人的关系中找到意义。
MBC以不可撤销的方式将参与者的生活与她们原有关系中的个人、新朋友以及乳腺癌社区联系起来。
这些发现提供了关于患有MBC的年轻女性的社会和关系需求的新信息。心理社会服务提供者和医疗团队成员不应假定MBC患者对生育保留不感兴趣。
