“A Bump in the Road”- Older Women's Views on Surviving Breast Cancer

Abstract

Due to the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, surviving with breast cancer will become more common, but also more complicated, as older women are often dealing with additional chronic illnesses and problems of aging. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how older women view surviving breast cancer in context with aging. Findings suggest that most women are able to put their cancer experience in the background and come to view breast cancer as a bump in the road through expecting illness with aging, putting cancer in perspective, and sensing a partnership.

KEYWORDS:

• older women
• breast cancer
• survivorship
• grounded theory

Acknowledgments

This research is supported by the 2008 Virginia Stone RN Scholar grant from the American Nurses Foundation.