Lived Experience of Women Seeking Breast Cancer Care: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Objectives:

Despite India's high breast cancer (BC) burden, few studies describe women's experiences seeking BC care. A phenomenological approach is best suited to address this gap and explore the experiences of women seeking BC care at a cancer hospital to inform patient-centric healthcare. Methods: Participants were purposely sampled and in-depth interviews were conducted. Responses were coded and thematized in LiGRE software. The iterative concept of the hermeneutic circle was followed to map the responses across four lived existential. Results: The experiences of 10 women with BC were described. The results were organized according to the four lived existential. Lived time: Poor awareness of BC and cancer-care facilities delayed healthcare-seeking. Initial distress transitioned to regret over prior unawareness. Lived body: Body disfigurement caused a unique existential crisis among young women. Lived space: Navigating healthcare and maintaining autonomy in unfamiliar settings was challenging. Prolonged treatment caused hopelessness and affected adherence. Lived relations: Societal views of BC contributed to stigma. Informal caregiving by children triggered guilt among mothers. Discussion: The interconnected lifeworld existential revealed the struggle of women with BC to balance life beyond clinical care. Improving social practices and providing empathetic patient-centered care will significantly improve the life experiences of women with BC.