Exploring Sufferings in Unmarried Women with Breast Cancer and Surgery

The current research was intended to uncover sufferings of unmarried women who had gone through breast surgery or having breast cancer, using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Purposive sample of 45 women was recruited from Bahawalpur Institute of Nuclear Oncology (BINO), Bahawalpur, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, and Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Oncology (INMOL) Hospital, Lahore. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using IPA. Four core themes were extracted from the experiences of the patients that went through breast cancer diagnosis, surgery and beyond. Themes included undesirable feelings, flattered self, emotional affliction and, dreadful future. Cancer, breast surgery, post-surgical complications and social stigma were main factors that revealed fears in patients.