Post-Traumatic Growth in the Early Survival Phase: From Turkish Breast Cancer Survivors’ Perspective

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the nature of post-traumatic growth (PTG) in Turkish breast cancer survivors in the post-treatment first two years. Materials and Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 breast cancer survivors. Data were collected between August 2015 and January 2016 in the medical oncology outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Turkey. Results: Two main themes were identified. They are as follows: making sense of the cancer (questioning life and death and religious meaning) and positive restoring (changes in values and increased coping skills). Conclusion: Health care professionals should be aware of these positive changes in the post-treatment period in accordance with aspects of PTG and they should be designed programs directed towards facilitating and enhancing post-traumatic growth in the breast cancer survivors.