The Lived Experience of Australian Women Living with Breast Cancer: A Meta-Synthesis

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among Australian women. In 2019, an estimated<br /> 19,000 women in Australia were diagnosed with breast cancer, with around 3,058 women dying from the disease in the<br /> same year. Although many qualitative studies published in Australia exist which examine breast cancer from various<br /> perspectives, only limited literature is available which addresses Australian women's lived experience of breast cancer<br /> from diagnosis, treatment and beyond. Method: Meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. Participants who took part in<br /> either semi-structured interviews or surveys with open-ended questions were included. A thematic synthesis analysis<br /> approach was used. Results: Five themes and 13 sub themes emerged from the data analysis which illustrated the lived<br /> experience of Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer. Emotional burden and women's response towards their<br /> breast cancer diagnosis were key themes. Experience of decision- making , social distress, symptoms beyond changes<br /> in their body, fertility considerations and their role as mothers were some of the challenges during their treatment.<br /> Women coped and adjusted with these challenges through the support of their family, and healthcare providers. Women<br /> developed greater empowerment by making their life choices after treatment. Life choices such as getting into a new<br /> relationship was challenging for single women. Conclusion: Although most women were emotionally supported<br /> following their diagnosis, there are still areas where women could be better supported such as when having to break<br /> the news of their breast cancer diagnosis to their children, provision of ongoing emotional support for caregivers of<br /> women with breast cancer, providing constant emotional and informational support at the point of diagnosis and during<br /> their treatment, tailoring treatments according to different stages of pregnancy, and discussion of fertility treatments<br /> in timely manner by healthcare professionals.