title: Controlling fear: Jordanian women's perceptions of the diagnosis and surgical treatment of early-stage breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the fact that breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among Jordanian women, practically nothing is known about their perceptions of early-stage breast cancer and surgical treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to gain understanding of the diagnosis and surgical treatment experience of Jordanian women with a diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  An interpretive phenomenological approach was used for this study. A purposive sample of 28 Jordanian women who were surgically treated for early-stage breast cancer within 6 months of the interview was recruited. Data were collected using individual interviews and analyzed using Heideggerian hermeneutical methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fear had a profound effect on Jordanian women's stories of diagnosis and surgical treatment of early-stage breast cancer. Women's experience with breast cancer and its treatment was shaped by their preexisting fear of breast cancer, the disparity in the quality of care at various healthcare institutions, and sociodemographic factors (eg, education, age).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early after the diagnosis, fear was very strong, and women lost perspective of the fact that this disease was treatable and potentially curable. To control their fears, women unconditionally trusted God, the healthcare system, surgeons, family, friends, and/or neighbors and often accepted treatment offered by their surgeons without questioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Jordanian healthcare providers have a responsibility to listen to their patients, explore meanings they ascribe to their illness, and provide women with proper education and the support necessary to help them cope with their illness.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Faculty of Nursing (Mrs Obeidat), Zarqa University, Jordan; School of Nursing (Drs Dickerson and Lally) and School of Public Health and Health Professions (Dr Homish), University at Buffalo, State University of New York; and Faculty of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid (Dr Alqaissi).
authors.forename: Rana F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Obeidat
authors.forename: Suzanne S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.forename: Gregory G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Homish
authors.forename: Nesreen M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Alqaissi
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lally
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000451:nursing*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000451:nursing; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires