Couples' experiences of breast cancer in Korea: a descriptive qualitative study

Breast cancer is not a disease merely experienced by the diagnosed woman. Despite the increased prevalence of breast cancer in Korea, the impact of the illness on married couples has not previously been studied.

This study aimed to explore the experiences of women with breast cancer and their spouses in South Korea.

A descriptive, single-occasion study design was used. Fourteen participants, comprising 7 dyads, were recruited from a university-affiliated hospital breast clinic in Seoul. Inclusion criteria were that the women were married and with a diagnosis of primary breast cancer without metastasis or recurrence. Using a semistructured interview schedule, interviews were conducted in a private room. Audio-recorded data in the Korean language were translated into English and coded using an inductive content analysis method.

The core constructs found in the experiences of women, husbands, and couples were "Coming Into My Own Voice," "Doing What It Takes to Keep Her Alive," and "Learning Through Struggling," respectively.

The diagnosis of breast cancer caused substantial distress for the couples and was transformative for the women and their husbands. The couples were still experiencing some unresolved hardships that required open communication and mutual effort for coping.

Health care practitioners should be sensitive to the cultural traditions and values that couples with breast cancer hold. After training nurse interventionists, educational counseling interventions should be launched, so as to empower the dyads.