Purpose/objectives: To elucidate some of the issues that affect the quality of life of older women (70 years of age and older) diagnosed with breast cancer.
Design: Descriptive design
Setting: A National Cancer Institute-designated site in the southeastern United States.
Sample: 12 women who were at least 70 years of age undergoing treatment (radiation, hormonal, or chemotherapy) for breast cancer.
Methods: Two to three interview encounters per participant, each lasting approximately one hour.
Findings: Eight major themes emerged: Importance of God, Positive Attitude, No Alteration in Lifestyle, Physician Trust, Caregiver to Others, Importance of Health, Importance of Family, and Alteration in Lifestyle.
Conclusions: The eight major themes are similar in terminology but varied in individual meanings.
Implications for nursing: Nurses must determine whether older women with a diagnosis of breast cancer are also primary caregivers to other individuals. As the story-gatherers for the healthcare team, nurses can use the data derived from interviews to document patients' health histories and provide a therapeutic process of coping with illness.