I’m Still Mom: Young Mothers Living With Advanced Breast Cancer

Abstract

PURPOSE: To conduct a detailed content analysis of the theme "I'm still Mom" as described by young women living with advanced breast cancer. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING: 12 young adult women living with advanced breast cancer were recruited from across the United States. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenologic method was used to analyze qualitative data from interviews and establish subthemes. FINDINGS: Women were a mean age of 36 years and had at least one child. The following three subthemes emerged from the overarching theme of I'm still Mom. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: This study provides a foundation for additional research that can inform family-centered education and interventions to help align the parenting priorities of this cohort of women, as well as optimize their quality of life.