The breast cancer patientʼs concerns of their children as a mother

本研究の目的は，外来で治療を継続しながら子供を養育している乳がん患者の療養生活における「子供への思い」について明らかにすることである．6 名の対象者に半構成的面接を行い，収集した語りの内容を質的帰納的に分析した．患者の語りから，『子供たちに心配させたくない』『病気扱いされたくな い』『親の責任を果たしたい』『子供への詫び』『自分の経験を活かして欲しい』『子供に支えられている』の 6 つの子供への思いが抽出された．患者は，母親役割を遂行できていないと感じ，子供に対して詫びる気持ちを抱く一方で，子供の存在が精神的な支えとなっていた．子供を養育している乳がん患者が生活を調整しながら治療を継続していくためには，子供の年代に応じた患者への支援，また子供に対する支援も考慮する必要があると考える．The purpose of this study was to explore the concerns of breast cancer patients as a mother. Data was collected through semi-constitutive interviews with six mothers with breast cancer and analyzed based on the qualitative deductive method. Data analysis revealed six categories of feelings: “not wanting to worry their children”; “not wanting to be treated like a sick mother”; “wanting to fulfill the responsibility as a mother”; “wanting to apologize to their children”; “wanting their children to learn from their mother’s experience of cancer”; and “being supported by children”. While the patients felt apologetic to their children for they felt they were not able to fulfil their role as a mother, the presence of children had been a spiritual support. For breast cancer patients with children who need to adjust their life whilst continuing treatment, nurses are suggested to consider the patient’s children’s age when providing support, and also consider support for the patient’s children