Spiritual Survivors: Strategies for Coping with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC), a life-threatening illness, is the most widespread cancer affecting women in the world. Women may experience a number of physical and psychological problems after being diagnosed with breast cancer. To deal with these problems, women use different strategies. This study was used netnography method to examine the strategies used by women with cancer to deal with their problems. The strategies examined were based on the COPE scale developed by Carver et al. (1989) and used by Kershaw et al. (2004). This study examines coping strategies under two headings: active strategies and avoidance strategies. The study was analyzed close to 1000 consumer (patient) comments, posted on five different message boards for consumers. Patients in the group were observed to tell their own stories, ask for help from others in the group, and use different coping strategies in their fight against cancer. In particular, cancer patients were found to use multiple strategies together rather than using a single one. In addition, patients using active coping strategies were observed to be more optimistic, happier, and more appreciative of life, whereas patients using avoidance strategies were observed to avoid taking responsibility, ignore their illness, and blame others for the illness.

Keywords

• Breast Cancer
• Coping
• Qualitative Research
• Netnography

Manevi Olarak Hayatta Kalanlar: Meme Kanseri ile Başa Çıkma Stratejileri

Abstract

Yaşamı tehdit eden bir hastalık olan meme kanseri (BC) dünyadaki kadınları etkileyen en yaygın kanserdir. Kadınlara meme kanseri tanısı konulduktan sonra fiziksel ve psikolojik problemlerle karşı karşıya kalmaktadırlar. Kadınlar bu problemlerle baş etmek için birbirinden farklı stretejiler kullanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada meme kanserli kadınların yaşadıkları problemler ile baş etmelerinde kullandıkları stratejiler netnografi yöntemi kullanılarak incelenmiştir. Carver vd. (1989) ve Kershaw vd. (2004) tarafından geliştirilen baş etme stratejileri (COPE) temel alınmıştır. Baş etme stratejileri bu çalışmalarda aktif ve kaçınma stratejileri olarak iki başlık altında incelenmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında beş farklı tüketici (hasta) forum sitesinden (5 Türkçe) 1000 tüketici yorumu analiz edilmiştir. Grup içerisinde hastaların kendi hikâyelerini anlatması, gruptakilerden yardım istemesi ve kanserle mücadelelerinde farklı baş etme stratejilerini kullandıkları gözlemlenmiştir. Özellikle kanser hastalarının tek bir strateji değil birçok stratejiyi bir arada kullandığı bulunmuştur. Ayrıca aktif baş etme stratejisini kullanan hastaların daha umutlu, mutlu ve hayatın farkına varan, kaçınma stratejisi kullanan hastaların ise, sorumluluk almayan, hastalığı yok sayan ve hastalıkları konusunda başkalarını suçlayan özelliklere sahip oldukları gözlemlenmiştir.

Keywords

• Meme Kanseri
• Başa Çıkma
• Nitel Araştırma
• Netnografi

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