Identity and the Illness Experience: Issues Faced by Mothers with Cancer

Abstract

Facing a life-threatening illness such as cancer can lead a woman to reevaluate her identity and the meaning of her existence. Utilizing a relational perspective, this study examined changes in identity experienced by a sample of mothers with cancer. Qualitative data on forty-one women were collected utilizing a semistructured interview schedule. While the theme of relationships was interwoven throughout their self-descriptions, the women's responses varied regarding how they managed their relational activities during their illness. Most respondents reported having positive feelings about who they were despite the often difficult impact that the illness and treatment had on their family roles. Many also reported that their experience with cancer had changed their sense of identity by causing them to reprioritize what was important and by revealing their personal strengths. Suggestions for health care professionals to assist women with cancer in coping with identity-related issues are offered.

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