The experience of suffering as lived by women with breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
The advances in screening and treatment technologies for breast cancer allow many women to survive. However, their experience of suffering throughout this illness journey is not understood totally.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the experience of suffering as lived by women with breast cancer.


METHODS
A qualitative inquiry based on Heidegger's phenomenological approach was used to collect, code and analyse the data. Open-ended questions were asked to six women during an individual interview to allow the participants to voice their lived experiences.


RESULTS
The voicing of their stories revealed a process of transformation as a response to the suffering experienced. The descriptions were deeply spiritual and connected to nature. The self-descriptions of their lived experience led to the construction of the Five Seasons of the Tree of Life.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses need to be cognizant of the multidimensionality of suffering so that interventions can be developed.
Perreault
Annie
A
Centre CARMEN, 253 Bellehumeur, Gatineau, Qc, Canada. annie.perreault@centrecarmen.ca
Bourbonnais
Frances Fothergill
FF
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D004532:Ego; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*