The lived experiences of Dominican women with Stage IV breast cancer
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Title
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The lived experiences of Dominican women with Stage IV breast cancer
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:3f33d481e841:10473
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identifier
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10624
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Creator
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Pacsi, Alsacia Lorena,
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Contributor
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Keville Frederickson
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Date
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2010
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Nursing | Advanced Breast Cancer | Dominican Women | Phenomenological Study
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Abstract
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Background. The diagnosis of breast cancer, for most, elicits anxiety and fear due to the disease and treatment process, which usually has a devastating effect on the person, both physically and emotionally. Would ethnicity change or modify this stereotypical response? This study was done to illuminate the perceptions of Dominican women living with Stage IV breast cancer (advanced breast cancer).;Methods. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of Dominican women diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer using a purposive sample of convenience to illuminate their perceptions of living with advanced breast cancer. Six second-generation United States-born women of Dominican immigrants, residing in the New York City (NYC) area, underwent face-to-face in-depth interviews. Each participant was interviewed once and data was analyzed using the descriptive phenomenological method of Amadeo Giorgi.;Results. The four essences that unfolded in this study were: uncertainty, coping, loving, and believing. The overall meaning of the experience of Dominican women with Stage IV breast cancer is described as one of uncertainty and unknowing; accepting the diagnosis so that thinking results in positive changes and healthy choices; enjoying life through meaningful participation in the lives of others and accepting support; and trusting in God through prayer, faith, and hope to create everlasting memories for their children. The synthesis of the overall structure for these women is to "leave a legacy of love." Interpretation of the overall meaning of the experience and structure aligned with the Roy Adaptation Model (RAM)'s philosophic principles of humanism and veritivity (Roy & Andrews, 2009). The overall meaning of the experience, as expressed by the participants, was translated to and aligned with these principles.;Conclusions. Analyzing the results of this research, one can infer that adaptation for the Dominican woman does not mean an acceptance of her illness; on the contrary, adaptation in this case is an impetus to build a new environment, create everlasting memories for their children, and leave a legacy of love. Future studies should be done using qualitative and quantitative methodology in order to further explore the phenomenon of parenting in this population.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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D.N.S.
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Program
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Nursing Studies
