Experiences of social burden amongst survivors of breast cancer in Gaza: A qualitative study

Abstract

Purpose

This qualitative study explores how social-cultural factors can either amplify or attenuate prospects for social support following a breast cancer diagnosis. The aim of the study is to analyse narratives of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer to examine how the illness influences social support and hence their post-illness experiences.

Methods

Forty semi-structured interviews, including thirty-eight with breast cancer survivors, are analysed using a grounded theory approach. Data were collected between September 2020 and April 2021.

Results

Participants' perceptions indicate that three main factors influenced experiences and the level of social support received. The first involves stigmatised cancer-related discourses and practices affecting women's social interactions and roles. The second is specific to (ex)married participants. It reveals how the foundation of marriage prior to the illness is a determining and influencing factor in the experience of women after illness. The third demonstrates how specific social identities enable coping, negotiation, and challenging cancer-related stigma, turning their experiences toward positivity.

Conclusions

The study concludes that breast cancer acts as a figurative magnifying glass, illuminating latent social practices in the community. This highlights the need to nurture existing social bonds or address the fragility of ties within distinct social categories. The research suggests implementing customised support interventions aligned with each group of survivors' unique needs. Furthermore, enhancing awareness within patients' social networks regarding the illness and how to provide support, along with enhancing survivors' financial security through economic empowerment, may contribute to more effective coping with the social consequences of the illness.