BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR’S CONQUEST EXPERIENCE by Young-Hee Noh RN, PhD Department of Nursing, Dongkang College

Ⅰ. INTRODUCTION 1. The need for the study Many studies on breast cancer have looked at a specific aspect of psychosocial adjustment in social support, sexuality, depression, and anxiety. Their methodology rests on quantitative research.

Although many papers on the quality of life of cancer patients have been published in recent years, there has been no research on the meaning and nature of the experiences of survivors in overcoming breast cancer. Therefore, this study attempted to provide basic data about the meaning and nature of that experiences to help survivors attain a better quality of life.

2. Purpose of the study This study was conducted to understand the meaning and nature of the experiences of breast cancer survivors. What do they have to overcome to live as breast cancer survivors?

3. Definition of concepts Survivorship is not only about long-term survival or cure; rather, people with cancer are survivors from the time of diagnosis through the remainder of their lives (National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, 1986).

An individual is considered a cancer survivor from the time of diagnosis through the balance of his or her life. Family members, friends, and caregivers also are affected by the survivorship experience and therefore are included in this definition(National Cancer Institute Office of Cancer Survivorship, 2001).

Ⅱ. METHOD. 1. Design This study adopted a hermeneutic phenomenological method, which was guided by Shin Kyung Rim's (1998) four- step revised version of Van Manen's research method.

The method of inquiry included : turning to phenomenon of interest; inquiring and investigating experience as it was lived rather than as conceptualized; reflecting and analyzing intrinsic themes that characterize phenomenon; and describing phenomenon through art and literature.

2. Subjects The participants in this study were nine breast cancer survivors in the age group of 30 to 60.

3. Equipment The interviews were tape-recorded and the intrinsic themes were drawn out using a 'line-by-line' approach. Reflecting on the themes, the researcher referred to origins of words, idioms, literary and art works, and relevant phenomenological literature to enhance insight and understanding of the experience of the participants.

유방암 생존자들의 제주도 극기훈련연수

4. Data collection The subjects of this study were nine outpatients who had undergone operation, chemotherapy and radiation therapy at C University Hospital in Gwangju during the data collection period from December 2001 to August Data for the exploration of the meanings of their experience were gathered through interviews and by observation from December 2001 to August 2002.

5. Analysis of data The data were analyzed using Van Manen's method. Ⅲ. RESULTS 1. Results Through this process, essential themes of the experience emerged :

Essential Themes of the Experiences of Breast Cancer Survivors Subtitle: Rebuilding of a life hardened by disease relations ThemesEssential Themes The reality that you want to leave behind The sorrow of the poor Impatience At the edge of despair Desire to escape from reality Lost dreams Mindless like a puppet Feelings of emptiness

ThemesEssential Themes Fear of recurrence Worry about the future Overcoming the difficulties Prayer Hope against an uncertain future Now let's manage my health With the affection hold on to a bit of straw Take time to let my feelings out Focus on the self

ThemesEssential Themes Being happy over small things My appearance has changed, but it's still the same me inside My situation looks better Talk with the unpleasant heart opened Live everyday as if it is my last Realization of the small meanings of life

ThemesEssential Themes Cared for by my husband The importance of children Days that endure by love Deepened Family Love I don't see the people I met before I got sick Building trusting relationships New relations formed after treatment

2. Conclusion This study attempted to provide basic data about the meaning and nature of the experience of overcoming breast cancer in order to help survivors attain a better quality of life. It suggested methods of intervention to help survivors of breast cancer overcome their ordeal, in particular through the theme of "Strong new relations formed through the scars of disease. This findings have implications for education, research, and practice.

“ Nadja; I knocked down my cancer. ” WangDu(2001)