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Negative and positive life changes following treatment completion: Chinese breast cancer survivors’ perspectives

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Abstract

Purpose

Although we acknowledge the negative and positive aspects of the cancer survivorship experience, we have little information on this issue from the perspective of Chinese breast cancer survivors. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of negative and positive life changes following treatment completion among this population.

Methods

Using purposive sampling, 29 breast cancer survivors were selected from the attendees of a local cancer self-help organization in middle China and proceeded with semi-structured in-depth interviews. Each interview was transcribed verbatim and analyzed using directed content analysis.

Results

Two predetermined categories were identified to represent participant perception of the breast cancer survivorship experience, namely, negative life changes and positive life changes. The first category included fear of recurrence, symptom experience, poor body image, altered sexuality and intimacy, and financial burden. The second category consisted of new life perspective, personal growth, and enhanced relationships with family.

Conclusions

Our findings contribute to the emerging evidence on the duality of breast cancer survivorship. This enhanced understanding of the specific negative and positive changes experienced by Chinese breast cancer survivors can assist health professionals in addressing survivorship issues by designing appropriate interventions to minimize negative consequences and enhance positive growth.

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Notes

  1. Each verbatim quotation is provided with participant’s information on age and time since completion of cancer treatment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the breast cancer survivors who participated in this study. We also acknowledge the recruitment assistance and help given by the local cancer self-help organization.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests and that no funding has been received to support the conduct of this study. The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review their data if requested.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hom Hung, Hong Kong, China

    Huilin Cheng

  2. The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China

    Janet W. H. Sit

  3. Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore, National University Hospital System, Singapore, Singapore

    Karis K. F. Cheng

Authors
  1. Huilin Cheng
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  2. Janet W. H. Sit
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  3. Karis K. F. Cheng
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Huilin Cheng.

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Cheng, H., Sit, J.W.H. & Cheng, K.K.F. Negative and positive life changes following treatment completion: Chinese breast cancer survivors’ perspectives. Support Care Cancer 24, 791–798 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2845-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2845-z

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