Family role in dealing with breast cancer challenges

Abstract

Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in Malaysia overall and the most common cancer among Malaysian women in year 2002 (National Cancer Registry, 2003). When discovered with the disease, survivors need to cope with various challenges. Others join the band wagon to help survivors deal with their problematic situation. This paper deliberates on the role of family members in assisting cancer survivors manage the disease. The analysis is based on a research carried out on breast cancer survivors in Peninsular Malaysia. Data was collected through focus group interview with 36 informants and a survey on 400 respondents. Both informants and respondents were either patient at government or private hospitals and/or member of support groups. Responses from focus group interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for emerging themes. Data from the survey were analyzed for descriptive statistics by using the SPSS. The finding reveals that family members play a crucial role in assisting breast cancer survivors deal with the disease by; (1) helping in decision making during treatment, (2) providing information on cancer related matters, and (3) providing social support to survivors. The inquiry suggests that family structure is still an important social fabric in our society. As an element of social capital, family member can be tapped upon as a reliable resource in time of crisis.