title: Awaiting diagnosis of breast cancer: strategies of enduring for preserving self.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explicate the emotional experiences of women undergoing breast cancer diagnosis who are waiting for the results of breast biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Glaserian Grounded Theory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban area in western Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  37 women aged 32-76 years. The breast cancer diagnosis was positive for 11 women, negative for 24 women, and two results were unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unstructured, recorded telephone interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Undergoing breast cancer diagnosis is a profoundly distressing experience dictated by diagnostic processes and procedures. Women rapidly transitioned from wellness to frightening phases of facing cancer to continuing terror during the testing phase. While waiting to hear results, women controlled their emotions, which enabled them to get through the experience and highlighted the protective function of enduring and its necessity for survival. The basic social psychological process, preserving self, is the outcome of enduring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A mid-range theory, Awaiting Diagnosis: Enduring for Preserving Self, was developed. This theory explicates the emotional responses of women who were undergoing diagnosis for breast cancer and provides a theoretical behavioral basis for responding to cues and signals of suffering.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Praxis Theory of Suffering enables nurses to recognize and respond according to the behaviors of suffering, and to endure with healthy, adaptive, and normalizing behaviors that enable preserving self.
authors: College of Nursing, University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
authors: Janice M
authors: JM
authors: Morse
authors: Edmonton Zone of the Alberta Health Services and Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta in Canada.
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Pooler
authors: College of Nursing, Chamberlain University, Chicago, IL.
authors: Terrie
authors: T
authors: Vann-Ward
authors: College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
authors: Lory J
authors: LJ
authors: Maddox
authors: Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope, Duarte, CA.
authors: Jill M
authors: JM
authors: Olausson
authors: College of Nursing, University of Colorado in Denver.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Roche-Dean
authors: College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University in Phoenix.
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Colorafi
authors: College of Nursing, University of Utah.
authors: Connie
authors: C
authors: Madden
authors: Department of Communication, University of Utah.
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Rogers
authors: School of Nursing, Boise State University in Idaho.
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Martz
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept
keywords: biopsy; breast cancer diagnosis; enduring; grounded theory; mid-range theory; preserving self; suffering