ATT INSJUKNA I BRÖST — CANCER

Breast cancer is the most usual kind of cancer in Finland. Yearly about 3200 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. The aims of this study was to clarify how women in Finland experience the diagnostic process, the operation, the interaction with the health professionals and the information they get while getting ill with breast cancer. It also addresses in which way the interaction and information to these patients are a challenge for the health professionals. Data was gathered from interviews with eighteen women who had undergone a breast reconstruction operation at one of the Helsinki University Hospitals. Seven of the women got their diagnosis in the 1980's and eleven in the 90's, the average age of the women was at the time of the diagnosis 42 year. A qualitative and phenomenological approach was used and data were collected by interviews and analyzed by qualitative content analyses. The results show how serious illness causes strong psychological stress. Uncertainty, waiting and failed contacts with doctors and nurses worsen this stress. The results are discussed with regard to how the different experiences affect the emotions and the appraisal of the stress-situation. In conclusion possible ways of informing the patients in order to promote the understanding and the coping resources of the patient are discussed.