Post-Traumatic Growth in Young and Middle-Aged Breast Cancer Patients After Modified Radical Mastectomy: A...

Breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent modified radical mastectomy represent a profound psychological threat for young and middle-aged patients, potentially serving as a catalyst for post-traumatic growth. However, the subjective lived experience of post-traumatic growth in this specific population remains poorly understood, limiting the development of targeted psychosocial support.

To explore the lived experience of post-traumatic growth in young and middle-aged breast cancer patients after modified radical mastectomy, providing a reference for individualized nursing interventions in clinical practice.

Using phenomenological research methods, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 young and middle-aged breast cancer patients after modified radical mastectomy. The results were organized and analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological data analysis method, and themes were extracted.

The refined themes can be divided into three main themes and six subthemes: traumatic experiences (disease burden, psychological burden), psychological adaptation (multifaceted social support, proactive self-coping), and self-growth (positive transformation, planning for a bright future).

Our findings reveal that post-traumatic growth in young and middle-aged breast cancer patients after modified radical mastectomy is dynamic, influenced by multiple factors. This necessitates personalized, stage-specific nursing interventions and robust social support to facilitate psychological adjustment and promote growth.