Operation Experiences of Women with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Purpose: In order to implement effective nursing interventions in operative procedures, it is necessary to understand the patients' care requirements. The aim of this study was to investigate the operating room experiences of patients with breast cancer. Methods: The study was conducted from November 15, to December 28, 2018. Participants were recruited through an objective sampling method and included eight women who had undergone breast cancer surgery within the last 10 years. Interviews were conducted with the participants until no new data were obtained. Qualitative data were analyzed using the 6-stage phenomenological analysis method of Colaizzi.Results: Three categories were identified across 18 themes and 8 theme clusters. For the category “before entering the operating room”, participants experienced crossing the threshold of death, mixed feelings of regret and resentment, and discomfort due to the gaze of unfamiliar people. With regard to “when entering the operating room”, participants experienced uneasiness owing to the cold environment and the medical procedures. However, they felt comforted with the attentiveness of the medical staff. Finally, regarding the category “after leaving the operating room”, participants experienced a sense of relief that the cancer cells were removed but expressed distress concerning the obstacles in follow-up care. Conclusion: The results indicate the necessity of understanding the experiences of breast cancer patients undergoing surgery and developing effective nursing interventions for these patients.