Experiences of Women After Breast Cancer Surgery

AIM: This study was carried out to determine the experiences women go through after breast cancer surgery. METHOD: The research was planned by using qualitative method of phenomenological type The sampling of this study consisted of 20 women with breast cancer who had undergone mastectomy in the general surgery clinic of a university hospital between January 2013 and December 2013. In sampling selection, purposeful sampling method was adopted. Women who were literate, able to communicate, willing to participate in the research, and those who had undergone mastectomy between six months and five years ago with no history of psychiatric illnesses were selected in sampling. Face-to-face interview technique was used to gather research data. The interview data were deciphered by the researcher and content analysis was done by using the N-Vivo7 program. RESULTS: Women participating in the study had an average age of 41.1±7.3 years, 90% (n=18) were married, 55% (n=11) were primary school graduates, they all have children, 80% (n=16) had their first child between 20 and 30 years of age, they all breastfeed their children (n=20) breastfed their children, 90% (n=18) had their first menstruation between 12 and 14 years of age, 65% (n=13) had regular menstruation cycles, and 70% (n=14) did not use contraceptive pills. In qualitative findings, themes of first reaction regarding diagnosis, deterioration of body image, deterioration of sexual life, fear, and ways to cope with illness were defined. CONCLUSION: It was determined that breast cancer affects women substantially psychologically; and therefore, providing psychological support before and after surgeries is advised.