Breast Cancer: Daughters Tell Their Stories

Description

“I will always and forever feel I have a 'hole' in my life where my mother once existed.” “I think, when you have to think about the fact you might have to take care of your parents someday and juggle kids at the same time…It's a scary proposition.” “We had open communication during and before the breast cancer. But then after the breast cancer, I was often... Read more

“I will always and forever feel I have a 'hole' in my life where my mother once existed.”

“I think, when you have to think about the fact you might have to take care of your parents someday and juggle kids at the same time…It's a scary proposition.”

“We had open communication during and before the breast cancer. But then after the breast cancer, I was often afraid to bring things up, in trying to protect Mom.”

This insightful book tells the stories of women whose mothers had breast cancer. It uses their own voices to express the common fears and expectations of daughters in the periods before and during their mothers' illnesses, involving genetic risks, death and dying, and changes in their relationships. The case studies, tables and figures, and two appendices will benefit health professionals and counselors, while the poignant narratives will help mothers and daughters better understand their experiences with breast cancer.

“I was kind of surprised to be alive and free of cancer at age 42, when at this point my mother was crippled by metastases. When I get to be 43—the age at which my mother died, or maybe when I get to 44—it's like, 'what do I do?' I have this life that I didn't expect to have.”

Breast Cancer: Daughters Tell Their Stories presents the results of a qualitative, grounded theory study of breast cancer survivors, providing in-depth information about an aspect of breast cancer that has been previously overlooked. The book examines the daughters' experiences through four phases—the period prior to mother's illness, the period during mother's illness and treatment, the period following mother's death (if mother dies), and the long-term impact. From this study, recommendations are compiled for providing or improving services for tomorrow's daughters.

“The radical mastectomy left her scarred and disfigured below her nightgown. It was bruised and nasty looking. That was kind of scary. I think that has terrified me since. Sometimes I'll have pains in my left breast and that's what I visualize. It's terrifying.”

“I'm not really obsessed about dying of cancer. I'm more along the line of, 'If this is going to happen to me, and there's a chance it's going to, I'm gonna survive. I'm not going to die from it.”

From an empathetic perspective, this book reveals how many daughters react to and deal with their mothers' diagnoses, depending on their age and family situation at the time of their mothers' illnesses. It shows how daughters can gain a more accurate idea of their level of risk by providing educational materials and developing new strategies for communication. It also helps breast cancer survivors see how their illnesses can shape their daughters' future outlook, offering new inspiration for resolving and preventing family crises. Read less

Foreword (Deborah K. Padgett)
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. Background and Introduction
Previous Research
Overview of Study
Background
Personal Background
Summary
Chapter 2. How the Study Was Done
Project Structure
Recruitment
Sample Description
Interviewing
Team Meetings
Advisory Board Meetings
Coding and Analysis
Trustworthiness
Writing
Conclusion
Chapter 3. A Daughter’s Experience of Her Mother’s Breast Cancer: Theoretical Model
Mother’s Survival
Daughter’s Age
Phases of the Breast Cancer Experience for Daughters
Interactions of Outcome, Age, and Phases of Daughter’s Experience
Structure of the Book
Conclusion
Chapter 4. Experience of Young Daughters When Mothers Die From Breast Cancer
Case Study #1: Rita
Case Study #2: Carol
Caste Study #3: Nora
Discussion
Summary
Chapter 5. Experience of Young Adolescent Daughters When Mothers Die from Breast Cancer
Case Study #1: Bettina
Case Study #2: Kara
Case Study #3: Cathy
Case Study #4: Gloria
Discussion
Summary
Chapter 6. Experience of Late Adolescent Daughters When Mothers Die from Breast Cancer
Case Study #1: Janice
Case Study #2: Trisha
Case Study #3: Alicia
Case Study #4: Veronica
Discussion
Summary
Chapter 7. Experience of Young Adult Daughters When Mothers Die from Breast Cancer
Case Study #1: Andrea
Case Study #2: Elizabeth
Case Study #3: Sarah
Case Study #4: Felicia
Discussion
Summary
Chapter 8. Experience of Daughters Whose Mothers Survive Breast Cancer
Case Study #1: Ramona
Case Study #2: Lisa
Case Study #3: Jane
Case Study #4: Mandy
Case Study #5: Jamie
Case Study #6: Sharon
Discussion
Summary
Chapter 9. Daughters and the Risk of Breast Cancer
Fear
Assessing Risk
Actions to Help Prevent Breast Cancer
Actions to Help in Early Breast Cancer Detection
Coping
Health Belief Model
Summary
Chapter 10. Key Phases and Broad Themes in the Experience of Breast Cancer Daughters
Family Background Before Diagnosis
Themes During the Period of Illness
Themes During the Period After Mother’s Death
Themes Concerning Long-Term Impact (After Death)
Summary
Chapter 11. Conclusions
The Study
Findings
Implications for Research
Theoretical Implications
Recommendations for Practice
Summary
Appendix I. Interview Guides and Other Pertinent Material
Appendix II. Typical Interview Description
Appendix III. Additional Case Studies
Appendix IV. Resources
Bibliography
Index
Reference Notes Included

Author(s)

Biography

Julianne S Oktay, J Dianne Garner

Breast Cancer Daughters Tell Their Stories

Description

Table of Contents

Author(s)

Biography

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