How will I live this life that I’m trying to save? Being a female breast cancer survivor in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Nigeria is experiencing an increasing rate of new cancer cases while marred by a weak health system. As cancer prevalence increases in Nigeria, especially among women, it is crucial to understand the experiences of female cancer survivors, given that their quality of life may be influenced by perceptions of cancer and what it means to be a cancer survivor.

Design

This study employed a qualitative descriptive method. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 30 female breast cancer survivors in Abuja, Nigeria.

Results

The three major themes were views about being a cancer survivor, cancer can be stigmatizing, and life after cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Conclusion

We argue that cancer-related identity and cancer-related stigma are key factors with help-seeking and quality-of-life implications. Tailored interventions such as cancer health education and social support for cancer survivors may help reduce the burden of cancer in Nigeria.

KEYWORDS:

• Identity and cancer
• cancer in sub-Saharan Africa
• cancer-related stigma
• women’s health
• chronic diseases
• cancer health behavior

Acknowledgment

The authors wish to thank Providence College for the providing funding support for this study. We are also grateful for the research support from Dr. Chizobam Nweke, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, and Project PINK BLUE – Health & Psychological Trust Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Providence College.