title: "The Body Gives Way, Things Happen": older women describe breast cancer with a non-supportive intimate partner.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many women identify their intimate partner as important source of support during cancer diagnosis and recovery, but little is known about how women deal with breast cancer while in a relationship self-described as difficult. The purpose of this article is to describe the aging-related experiences of older women who were diagnosed with breast cancer while in a non-supportive, difficult intimate relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 16 women aged 55-84 years (mean 68.1 years) in community settings in the mid-Atlantic United States. Data were analyzed using hermeneutic phenomenological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants self-identified as being in a difficult intimate relationship (relationship length range: 1 year- 60 years, mean 35.6 years). Reasons for relationship difficulty ranged from intimate partner abuse to terminal illness. The findings included the themes: "At my Age": participants reflect on aging and breast cancer; breast cancer, sexuality, and aging; and silence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Issues related to aging such as changes in sexual relationships, comorbidities, and partner illness complicated the women's breast cancer experience. Despite relationship difficulties, these women coped effectively with breast cancer in various ways. Study findings will increase awareness about the unique, complex needs of older women facing breast cancer with non-supportive intimate partners. Nurses should assess older breast cancer patients keeping in mind physical functioning, comorbidities, social support network, and quality of intimate partner support.
authors.affiliation: James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA. sawinem@jmu.edu
authors.forename: Erika Metzler
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sawin
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology