Psychological responses to breast cancer: A qualitative study

Breast cancer has high incidence among Iranian women and their long term survival lead to have more challenges with cancer complication. This qualitative study aimed to identify psychological responses following breast cancer. A qualitative phenomenological method has been designed for the study. A sample of 11 women with breast cancer by purposive sampling selected and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted. The interviews were transcribed verbatim،then Information have been analyzed during 5 steps using smith’s method. Two main themes emerged from the interviews included basic reactions and residual reactions and The following six sub themes of despair of life، trying to find a guilty، social isolation، irritability-sensitivity، feeling incompetence and fear of disease recurrence has been determined. Although breast cancer is a physical disease but it has great impact on a person''s mental health. Also So many psychological problems caused by breast cancer and its treatment، remains until many years after completion of therapies.