Qualitative inquiry on the experiences of Filipino women living with a sister with breast cancer: insights for psycho-oncology

ABSTRACT

Psychosocial implications of breast cancer diagnosis in families typically focused on marital and mother-daughter relationships. The lack of sibling-oriented perspectives on this phenomenon led this present study to investigate the experiences of Filipino women living with a sister diagnosed with breast cancer. Using the phenomenological approach of inquiry, semi-structured interviews were conducted to twelve purposively sampled women recruited from the Breast Care Center-Philippine General Hospital between January to February 2017. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that the participants have encountered many facets of the impact of the cancer journey, and these oftentimes led to unwanted personal and familial adjustments. Hence, improving the provision of services that address the psychosocial effects of cancer is warranted.

KEYWORDS:

• Lived experiences
• breast cancer
• Filipino family
• psycho-oncology
• counselling

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Philippine Department of Science and Technology Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (DOST-ASTHRDP) through a scholarship grant.

Notes on contributors

John Benedict Biñas Lagarde

John Benedict Biñas Lagarde, RN, MSc is currently working as a genetic counsellor and research associate at a non-government organization in Capiz, Panay, Philippines.

Jaclyn Marie Cauyan

Jaclyn Marie L. Cauyan, PhD is an assistant professor at the Counsellor Education Area of the College of Education, University of the Philippines Diliman. She is also a registered guidance counsellor.

Mercy Laurino

Mercy Y. Laurino, PhD, LGC is a clinical associate professor at the MS Genetic Counselling program of the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila. She is also a licensed genetic counsellor and director at the Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington.

Ma-Am Joy Tumulak

Ma-Am Joy R. Tumulak, MD, MSc is a genetic counsellor and researcher at the Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila. She is also a clinical associate professor at the MS Genetic Counselling program of the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila.

Michael San Juan

Michael D. San Juan, MD is a medical oncologist consultant at the Department of Medicine, Philippine General Hospital. He is also a clinical associate professor at the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila.

Elizabeth Ventura

Elizabeth R. Ventura, PhD is a psychologist and professorial lecturer at the Department of Psychology of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines Diliman.