Integrating the symptom experience and coping in patients with stage I-III breast cancer in China: A qualitative study

Purpose: To develop an in-depth understanding of the meaning of symptoms in the context of how women with stage I-III breast cancer in China cope with the effects of primary and adjuvant therapies for breast cancer.

Method: A qualitative descriptive approach was used. A purposive sample of women diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer were recruited from the "Be Resilient to Breast Cancer" study between November 2023 and March 2024. Data was collected from in person interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The framework analysis method was used to generate codes and themes.

Results: A sample of 17 women with breast cancer agreed to participate. The average age was 50.1 years (SD = 8.45), and the majority (65%) had stage III. The overarching theme was Confronting Physical and Psychological Symptoms. The four themes explaining the experience were Changed Identity, Uncertainty, Finding Meaning and Seeking Support and Solace. Changed Identity and Uncertainty reflected the challenges of coping with multiple symptoms from the treatment. The themes of Finding Meaning and Seeking Support and Solace captured how women adapted a positive perspective to cope with the experience.

Conclusions: This study contributed to the evidence of the integration of the symptom experience in coping with breast cancer treatment in the context of a collectivist Chinese culture. It enhanced the understanding of the physical and psychological symptom experience of curative intent breast cancer therapy and offered insight into how women from China cope in early survivorship.