FACTORS INFLUENCING CANCER SURVIVORSHIP AMONG NIGERIAN WOMEN. (20th December 2022)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- FACTORS INFLUENCING CANCER SURVIVORSHIP AMONG NIGERIAN WOMEN. (20th December 2022)
- Main Title:
- FACTORS INFLUENCING CANCER SURVIVORSHIP AMONG NIGERIAN WOMEN
- Authors:
- Esiaka, Darlingtina
Nwakasi, Candidus
Chidebe, Runcie
Fatai, Khadijat Banwo
Orji, Gloria - Abstract:
- Abstract: Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally and among Nigerian women. With technological and medical advancements, especially in the early detection of chronic illnesses, there is a reduction in cancer deaths, and more women are living as cancer survivors in Nigeria. Despite the increase in the number of cancer survivors, many survivors struggle with life after cancer diagnoses. In this study, we interviewed 30 Nigerian women (Mage = 42.00) who completed cancer therapy in the past 12 months and above, to explore how women who underwent cancer therapy perceive their healing, health, and quality of life. An example of one of the interview questions is "How did cancer diagnoses affect your normal way of life?" Each interview lasted an average of 1 hour. Participant responses were transcribed, and theme coded for analysis. We found that fear of reoccurrence, loss of sense of purpose, shame from physical mutilation related to mastectomy, poor psychological health, social isolation, and ill-treatment from other members of the community were recurring themes across all of the women's responses. The presence of cancer survivors' support groups and religiosity were important for the experience of life after a cancer diagnosis. Our findings draw attention to the need for interventions targeting cancer survivors. The result further indicates that addressing community perceptions of breast cancer is imperative to ensure the health of breast cancer survivors, especially inAbstract: Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally and among Nigerian women. With technological and medical advancements, especially in the early detection of chronic illnesses, there is a reduction in cancer deaths, and more women are living as cancer survivors in Nigeria. Despite the increase in the number of cancer survivors, many survivors struggle with life after cancer diagnoses. In this study, we interviewed 30 Nigerian women (Mage = 42.00) who completed cancer therapy in the past 12 months and above, to explore how women who underwent cancer therapy perceive their healing, health, and quality of life. An example of one of the interview questions is "How did cancer diagnoses affect your normal way of life?" Each interview lasted an average of 1 hour. Participant responses were transcribed, and theme coded for analysis. We found that fear of reoccurrence, loss of sense of purpose, shame from physical mutilation related to mastectomy, poor psychological health, social isolation, and ill-treatment from other members of the community were recurring themes across all of the women's responses. The presence of cancer survivors' support groups and religiosity were important for the experience of life after a cancer diagnosis. Our findings draw attention to the need for interventions targeting cancer survivors. The result further indicates that addressing community perceptions of breast cancer is imperative to ensure the health of breast cancer survivors, especially in low-resource countries. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Innovation in aging. Volume 6(2022)Supplement 1
- Journal:
- Innovation in aging
- Issue:
- Volume 6(2022)Supplement 1
- Issue Display:
- Volume 6, Issue 1 (2022)
- Year:
- 2022
- Volume:
- 6
- Issue:
- 1
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2022-0006-0001-0000
- Page Start:
- 599
- Page End:
- 599
- Publication Date:
- 2022-12-20
- Subjects:
- Aging -- Periodicals
Gerontology -- Periodicals
612.67 - Journal URLs:
- https://academic.oup.com/innovateage ↗
http://www.oxfordjournals.org/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1093/geroni/igac059.2237 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 2399-5300
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 25061.xml