title: Experience of dealing with moral responsibility as a mother with cancer.
abstract: This study explored how women with a diagnosis of cancer (lymphoma) deal with moral concerns related to their responsibility as parents. Ten women with cancer and who had children living at home were interviewed. The interviews were analysed according to the constant comparative method used in grounded theory. In order to provide a focus for the analysis, the ethics of care and the concept of mothering were used as sensitizing concepts. The core concept 'experience of dealing with moral responsibility of being a parent with cancer by redefining oneself as a mother was identified. The processes involved were: interrupted mothering; facing the life-threatening illness and children's reactions; striving to be a good mother; attempting to deal with moral responsibility; and coming to terms with being a mother.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care Sciences, Ersta and Sköndal University College, S-116 91 Stockholm, Sweden. Eva.Elmberger@euc.ersta.se
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elmberger
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bolund
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lützén
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000941:ethics*; D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000523:psychology*; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D028681:Moral Obligations; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D033262:Narration; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure