ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The narrow treatment road to survival: Everyday life perspectives of women with breast cancer from Iraq and the former Yugoslavia undergoing radiation therapy in Sweden
A. Holst-Hansson RN, MSc,
E. Idvall RN, PhD,
I. Bolmsjö BTh,
A. Wennick RN, RSCN, PhD,
Corresponding Author
A. Holst-Hansson RN, MSc
PhD Student
Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Care Science, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Radiophysics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
Correspondence
Annette Holst-Hansson, Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Care Sciences, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorE. Idvall RN, PhD
Professor
Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Care Science, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorI. Bolmsjö BTh
Professor
Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Care Science, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorA. Wennick RN, RSCN, PhD
Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Care Science, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorA. Holst-Hansson RN, MSc,
E. Idvall RN, PhD,
I. Bolmsjö BTh,
A. Wennick RN, RSCN, PhD,
Corresponding Author
A. Holst-Hansson RN, MSc
PhD Student
Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Care Science, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Radiophysics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
Correspondence
Annette Holst-Hansson, Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Care Sciences, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorE. Idvall RN, PhD
Professor
Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Care Science, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorI. Bolmsjö BTh
Professor
Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Care Science, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorA. Wennick RN, RSCN, PhD
Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Care Science, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
This study aimed at exploring how women from Iraq and the former Yugoslavia, diagnosed with breast cancer and living in Sweden, experience their everyday life during radiation therapy. A qualitative research design was used comprising interviews with ten women, five originating from Iraq and five from the former Yugoslavia. Striving to survive, the women experienced their everyday life during radiation therapy as extremely challenging. This experience can be placed into three categories: strategies for survival, keeping up appearances and staying in control. Because of these specific challenges, immigrant women may need additional information and guidance in conjunction with the diagnosis, which may enable them to identify possible sources of support from those closest to them. Also, greater attention should focus on acknowledging the woman behind the diagnosis, regardless of her origin, to develop an individualised support programme to help her cope with everyday life during radiation therapy.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
All authors of this study certify that there is no conflict of interests to declare.
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