Lived experiences of breast cancer survivors at the General Hospital Ilorin Kwara State Northcentral, Nigeria

Abstract

Breast cancer is a debilitating disease with severe physical, psychological, social, and financial consequences. A phenomenological
approach was used in this study to investigate the lived experience of twenty-one (21) breast cancer survivors who were
purposefully chosen until saturation was reached. Tesch's data analysis method was employed. The participants' ages ranged from
30 to 70 years old, with the majority (16 out of 21; 76.2%) diagnosed within the previous two years and many describing the
treatment experience as unpleasant and painful, with numerous side effects including nausea, insomnia, sore throat, and hair loss.
The majority of participants (16 of 21; 76.2%) reported financial hardship as a result of treatment costs. The disease's socioeconomic
impact includes poor human relations, negative perceptions of breast cancer diagnosis, poor sociocultural roles, and negative effects
on patients' livelihood. Breast cancer counseling should be expanded, government and other stakeholders should also consider
subsidized breast cancer management