“Malakas Paia Ako, Maswerte Pa Rin Ako” (I am still Strong, I am still Lucky) Phenomenological Experiences of Breast Cancer Survivors and their Significant Others

Abstract

The study documents the experiences of breast cancer survivors and their significant others as the former go through chemotherapy treatment. Phenomenological research design was employed to describe the lived experience of the participants. There were 15 participants: 5 female cancer survivors, their husbands, and one child per couple. The age of survivors ranges from 35 - 65 years of age and 16 and above among the cohort of children. The participants were identified through purposive sampling and data were gathered through in-depth interview. The three major themes drawn from the analyses of data: Confronting the Reality of Diagnosis, Experiencing Chemotherapy as Blight, and Re-Experiencing Chemotherapy as Blessing evoked corresponding sub-themes from the subjective experiences of the participants. For example, the major theme Confronting the Reality of Diagnosis has Diagnosis as hard to accept and Difficulty of acceptance as sub-themes. On the other hand, Experiencing Chemotherapy as Blight, reflects the Negative Psycho-physical Effect of Chemotherapy as painfully experienced by the survivors, and the Anxiety during the Chemotherapy and Financial Burden as co-morbid experiences by the husbands. The children similarly underwent the shared burden and feeling of Pain during chemotherapy and Financial Burden diffused by their suffering mothers and fathers, respectively. Finally, the collective emotions and other shared experiences as a family-in-crisis provides an alternative phenomenon of Re-Experiencing Chemotherapy as Blessing producing a potpourri of actions and reflections disguised as coping strategies and positive consequences such as Positive Approach on the disease, Indispensability of social support, God as The Healer, Belief in a Divine Purpose for the Disease, Perceived power of prayer, Acceptance as essential to recovery, and Struggle to live and to survive for the Breast Cancer Survivor; Coping as a Family, Spirituality as Source of Strength, Confidence in the Physician, and Primacy of Moral Support for the Husbands; and for the Children: Finding Strength, Contingency of Religous Faith and Acceptance, Trust in the Treatment and the Doctor and Awareness of the Situation. Further reading of the themes also reveals the action and state of a family-intreatment. The case of a single family and their shared experiences show the role of reciprocal love and support and Denial and Acceptance as a Couple. Understanding of the contexts and subtexts of the findings show the importance of spirituality, social support, positive approach towards the disease and the healing power of love and tender loving care from loved ones in providing the breast cancer survivor the will to live while in the process of chemotherapy treatment and recovery. From the study, a better understanding of breast cancer as both a medical and a social phenomenon can be drawn. More importantly, points for reflection and action in dealing with breast cancer can be learned from the experiences shared by the study participants.