The Experience of the Passage of Time as Narrated by Women With Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

<strong>Background:</strong> Breast cancer is closely linked with the quality of passage of time by the patient. <strong>Objectives:</strong> The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of the passage of time in narratives of women with breast cancer. <strong>Patients and Methods:</strong> Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 8 women after mastectomy. A thematic method based on the qualitative research was used to explore the meaningful themes. <strong>Results:</strong> The results obtained revealed that the story of passing of time involved two fluctuation modes. At the primary stages of encountering breast cancer the patients experience a chaotic time in which the first reaction was denying and disavowing the fact that they were plagued by an unexpected threat. Following this stage, the patients begin to progressively base their experience on creativity and religious coping strategies called the calmness period. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Passing of time is of fluctuation type. Creativity and religious context have main roles in resolving the psychological problems of women with breast cancer. Therefore, policy makers must consider planning to enrich religious beliefs in women with breast cancer.