Pomen partnerskega odnosa po odstranitvi dojke pri ženskah po diagnozi rak dojke : magistrsko delo

Ovčar, Laura (author), Simonič, Barbara (mentor)

Rak dojke je zelo pogosta oblika raka pri ženskah in globoko vpliva na fizično, čustveno ter socialno počutje bolnic. Ne vpliva le na žensko, ampak tudi na njen partnerski odnos in partnerja, ki ima eno izmed ključnih vlog pri podpori ter pomoči žensk pri celotnem procesu zdravljenja dojk. V magistrskem delu je avtorica raziskovala pomen partnerskega odnosa pri odstranitvi dojke v času raka dojk. V teoretičnem delu je predstavljen rak dojke in dejavniki tveganja za njegov nastanek ter vrste zdravljenja, ki se jih lahko žensko posluži. Piše tudi o psihosocialnih izzivih, ki jih rak prinese v življenje žensk in o vplivu raka dojke na samopodobo ženske ter spolnost. Predstavila je pomen partnerskega odnosa in spremembe v odnosu zaradi raka dojke ter je obravnavala funkcionalen in nefunkcionalen partnerski odnos. V empiričnem delu je avtorica s fenomenološko psihološko metodo raziskovala doživljanje pomena partnerskega odnosa pri ženskah po diagnozi raka dojk. Izvedla je šest poglobljenih intervjujev z ženskami, ki so imele raka dojke. Rezultati raziskave so pokazali vpliv funkcionalnega partnerskega odnosa na lažje prebolevanje raka dojke in kako lahko partner deluje podporno. S tem so bili osvetljeni praktični in drugih vidiki pomoči. Ugotovljeno je, da so vse udeleženke dojemale svoj partnerski odnos kot podporen in so zanj zelo hvaležne. Udeleženke so se borile s spremenjeno samopodobo v času diagnoze in tudi po diagnozi, vendar ne toliko zaradi odstranjene dojke, kot pa zaradi drugih fizičnih sprememb, ki jih rak prinese. Ženske so bile opolnomočene na področju samopodobe s strani partnerja. Udeleženke so doživljanje veliko spremembo na področju spolnosti, vendar to dejstvo ni zmanjšalo zadovoljstva v partnerskem odnosu, saj so tudi partnerji pokazali veliko mero potrpežljivosti in razumevanja. Po prebolelem raku se vse počutijo bolj povezane s svojimi partnerji.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: rak dojke, partnerski odnos, samopodoba, intimnost, fenomenološki pristop
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: [L. Ovčar]
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: V, 79, I str.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-147421
• UDC: 159.922.2:316.361: 616-006 043.2)
• COBISS.SI-ID: 158436611
• Publication date in RUL: 05.07.2023

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: The significance of partner relationships after mastectomy in patients with diagnosed breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is a widespread form of cancer occuring in women with a profound effect on the physical, emotional as well as social well-being of patients. It affects not only them, but also their relationships with their partners as well as the partners themselves, who are the ones playing one of the key roles in supporting and helping women throughout the entire process of breast treatment. In this Master's thesis, the author has conducted research on the importance of a partner relationship in cases of breast-cancer induced mastectomy. The theoretical part contains a description of breast cancer and the risk factors for its occurrence as well as the types of treatment a woman can use. The author also writes about the psychosocial challenges that cancer brings to women's lives as well as the impact of breast cancer on a woman's self-image and sexuality. The author presents the importance of partner relationships and changes in relationships due to breast cancer, and discusses functional and dysfunctional partner relationships. In the empirical part of the thesis, the author uses a phenomenological psychological method to investigate the experience of the importance of a partner relationship in women after a breast cancer diagnosis. For this purpose, six in-depth interviews with women who had breast cancer were conducted. The research results show the positive impact of a functional partner relationship on recovery from breast cancer and demonstrate the role the partner can take on as a supporter in such situations. Some other practical and various aspects of assistance were also highlighted. The conclusion is that all the participants perceived their partner relationship as supportive and were very grateful for it. The participants struggled with an altered self-image at the time of diagnosis as well as in the period that followed, due not so much to the removed breast but to other physical changes brought on by the cancer. The subjects were empowered in the area of self-image by their partner. They experienced a significant difference in the field of sexuality, but this fact did not reduce the satisfaction in the partner relationship, as their partners also showed a great deal of patience and understanding. After overcoming the disease, they all feel a greater connection with their partners.

• Keywords: breast cancer, partner relationship, self-image, intimacy, phenomenological approach