Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining Lived Experience and Coping Strategies of Breast Cancer Survivors in Sarajevo

Abstract

This study explored how women breast cancer survivors who underwent radical mastectomy experienced stress and adversity and managed their diagnosis and treatment. This study is based on semi-structured and in-depth interviews with a convenience sample of 22 participants. Qualitative analysis and discussion groups were conducted in the participant’s homes over 18 months. Thematic analysis resulted in four overarching categories that illustrated how being a woman was challenged and restructured from the participants’ personal experiences. The participants’ coping strategies were primarily reflected in their spirituality, optimism, the embrace of healthy lifestyles, and pink ribbon activism.