Personal narrative: Portraits of suzanne, an osage woman's story of loving the sun and living with skin cancer

Abstract

Suzanne, an elder of The Osage Nation, has been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma skin cancer. Her daughter, Bobbie, a cancer researcher working for the Youth Enjoy Science Research Education Program, conducted a case study to share Suzanne's story through written narrative and a series of images that present Suzanne's reflections on cancer prevention and treatment from a holistic perspective. Seven interview transcripts, as well as photographs, drawings, and paintings of Suzanne, were created and analyzed to explore Suzanne's lived experience of cancer. In her story of living with cancer, Suzanne shares an elder's love and wisdom that can inform cancer education and prevention efforts to help address Native American cancer disparities.