A qualitative exploration of the meaning of the term "survivor" to young women living with a history of breast cancer. (6th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rees, S.
• Is Part Of: European journal of cancer care. Volume 27:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-04-06
• Subjects: breast cancer -- identity -- survivor -- young women; Cancer -- Nursing -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1111/ecc.12847
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-5423

Abstract

Abstract : There has been a recent increase in research considering the perceptions of the term "cancer survivor" held by individuals who have or have had cancer. This article explores the meaning of the term to young women living with a history of breast cancer. Twenty women participated in semi‐structured interviews about their experience of breast cancer. The methodology was informed by social constructionist grounded theory. Three of the women interviewed said they would use the term survivor to describe themselves, but most of the women felt it did not fit with their experiences. The accounts of those who accepted and rejected the survivor identity are explored, and subthemes in the latter are "survivor as somebody else" and "cancer's ongoing presence." This article calls into question the basing of intervention strategies on the notion of the "cancer survivor, " and the assumption that younger women favour the survivor identity. Participants struggled with the demand to live up to the ideal of the survivor, which implied a high degree of agency where in reality, cancer was a disempowering experience. Being labelled a survivor obscured ongoing impacts of cancer on the young women's lives.