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When Breast Cancer Survivorship Discourse Doesn't Work: Reflections From a Patient
1Faculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University, Athabasca, Canada.
Journal of Patient Experience
|February 9, 2023
Summary
This narrative explores the challenges of breast cancer survivorship, where the author twice underwent difficult treatments but did not initially qualify for survivor status. It highlights the need for a more inclusive definition of breast cancer survivorship.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Sociology
Background:
- Breast cancer survivorship discourse offers benefits but presents challenges in adoption.
- Current definitions of survivorship may exclude individuals undergoing necessary treatments.
- Personal experiences reveal a disconnect between treatment and survivor identity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document personal experiences with breast cancer treatment and survivorship.
- To analyze the limitations of current breast cancer survivorship discourse.
- To advocate for a more inclusive interpretation of survivorship.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative narrative analysis of personal experiences.
- Review of breast cancer survivorship discourse.
- Exploration of the psychological impact of exclusion from survivorship identity.
Main Results:
- The author twice received necessary breast cancer treatments but was not initially recognized as a survivor.
- Struggles with confusion, despair, and ineligibility for support groups were experienced.
- Current survivorship definitions were found to be restrictive.
Conclusions:
- Breast cancer survivorship discourse needs re-evaluation to be more inclusive.
- A broader definition of survivorship is necessary to support all individuals who undergo treatment.
- Recommendations for change in survivorship discourse are proposed.
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