Mothering While Living With Breast Cancer: A Descriptive Phenomenologic Qualitative Study

Abstract

PURPOSE

To examine the roles and experiences of mothers diagnosed with breast cancer.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The study was conducted from June to September 2024 with 19 patients being treated for breast cancer in Türkiye.

METHODOLOGIC APPROACH

Data were collected through individual, in-depth interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenologic approach.

FINDINGS

Data analysis revealed four main themes and six subthemes. The four main themes were (a) Beyond Diagnosis: A Mother’s Resilience Through Cancer, (b) Between Mother and Patient: The Challenge of Maintaining Motherhood Amid Illness, (c) Between Truth and Protection: The Child’s Emotional Response to Parental Cancer, and (d) Family as Lifeline: Support Systems in the Face of Cancer.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment processes negatively affect women’s ability to fulfill the role of motherhood, and women experience several psychosocial problems related to their role. Oncology nurses should monitor the difficulties, feelings, and thoughts that mothers with breast cancer experience and support patients in developing individual coping methods.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Türkiye and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality (Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health General Directorate of Public Health, 2025). The incidence of breast cancer in women is 43.4 per 100,000 women in Türkiye, with one out of every four women receiving a diagnosis, and 40.7% of cases occurring in women aged 25–49 years (Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health General Directorate of Public Health, 2025). According to the GLOBOCAN 2022 database, breast cancer has become the second most diagnosed type of cancer, with an estimated 11.6% of 20 million new cases worldwide in 2022 (Bray et al., 2024). The World Health Organization (2024) reported that 685,000 women died from breast cancer in 2020 alone. By 2040, the global burden of breast cancer is projected to increase to three million new cases annually, with 1 in 12 women likely to develop the disease at some point in their lives (World Health Organization, 2024).

The incidence and survival rates of breast cancer are rising, but women at every stage of the diagnosis and treatment process face numerous challenges (Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health General Directorate of Public Health, 2025). Physical problems such as fatigue, weakness, and treatment-related side effects can hinder women from performing daily activities. These challenges often affect their roles and maternal responsibilities within the family, particularly for women with dependent children (Lundquist et al., 2020; Schliemann et al., 2023).

Literature Review

Research shows that mothers with breast cancer often struggle to meet their parental responsibilities. A systematic review by Liu et al. (2021) revealed that women with breast cancer, particularly younger mothers, experience stress, low parental self-efficacy, and insufficient support. Tavares et al. (2018) found that young women with breast cancer often experience parenting stress. Similarly, Shin et al. (2023) reported that childcare-related factors contribute significantly to the stress experienced by mothers with breast cancer. However, as children grow older, their developmental needs shift, and the maternal experience changes accordingly. This is particularly relevant for mothers coping with breast cancer. Babore et al. (2023) highlighted the struggle that mothers of adolescents face as they try to balance supporting their children’s emotional needs with managing their own health concerns. Song et al. (2024) noted that as children mature, maternal care evolves, focusing more on emotional support and guidance rather than physical caregiving.

Spiropoulos et al. (2023) found that mothers continue juggling multiple interacting roles after cancer treatment. This is incredibly challenging in traditional societies like Türkiye, where motherhood and child care often define women’s roles. Failure to fulfill these culturally assigned roles can lead to feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and negative thoughts related to self-esteem and body image (Ergül Güvendi, 2023). In addition, sociocultural and familial conditions significantly influence how women experience motherhood during illness (Mazaheri, Valizadeh, et al., 2021; Vaziri et al., 2014).

Studies emphasize that patients with breast cancer face numerous psychosocial challenges and that family support plays a crucial role in helping them overcome such difficulties (Mazaheri, Valizadeh, et al., 2021; Meacham et al., 2016). However, limited research explores how mothers in Turkish society navigate the challenges posed by breast cancer, use support systems available to them, and maintain family functions. Little is known about the specific challenges mothers with young, highly dependent children face under such circumstances (Lundquist et al., 2020; Mazaheri, Valizadeh, et al., 2021). The phenomena examined in this study are the motherhood roles and experiences of patients with breast cancer. In addition to providing professional care, oncology nurses also aim to improve patients’ quality of life (Ünlü et al., 2010). By examining the experiences of Turkish mothers with breast cancer, this study provides nurses with crucial insights into the difficulties faced by these women, enabling them to offer more targeted support. In addition, the findings may guide future interventional studies designed to help mothers with breast cancer develop coping strategies to address the challenges they encounter.

Theoretical Framework

This study is based on Goode’s (1960) theory of role strain, which explores the adverse effects of managing multiple demanding or unfamiliar roles and offers insights into strategies to mitigate these effects. According to theory of role strain, role conflict occurs when the demands of various roles—such as being a mother and a patient with breast cancer—compete, leading to strain. Role strain refers to the perceived difficulty of juggling these responsibilities and the stress that arises when role demands are not aligned. For mothers with breast cancer, the physical and emotional toll of the disease, combined with the caregiving demands of motherhood, can result in significant role strain. This strain may arise from high expectations, competing role demands, time constraints, and insufficient resources, further complicating the experience of fulfilling maternal duties while managing a serious illness (Goode, 1960).

This in-depth qualitative study aimed to examine the roles and experiences of mothers diagnosed with breast cancer. Research questions are the following:

• ■ What are the lived experiences of women with breast cancer when fulfilling their maternal roles?

• ■ How does breast cancer affect mothers’ fulfillment of maternal roles?

• ■ What coping methods do women with breast cancer use to help them fulfill their maternal roles?

Methods

Study Design and Participants

This study follows the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (Tong et al., 2007), a 32-item checklist developed to enhance transparency and rigorous reporting. It ensures that all essential aspects of qualitative methodology, including participant characteristics, study setting, and data collection techniques, are systematically reported. Husserl (1977) believed that descriptive phenomenology can be used to describe people’s experiences and the meaning of those experiences, characterizing opinions of phenomena. The primary goal of descriptive phenomenology is to depict the essence of how participants experience a given phenomenon, presenting its core meanings through participants’ own lived experiences (Creswell, 2012). The current study used this approach to examine the roles and experiences of mothers with breast cancer, as well as to understand their overall feelings, thoughts, and perspectives.

The current study’s population consisted of patients with breast cancer undergoing treatment, and the study was conducted with 19 patients who met the sample inclusion criteria and agreed to participate. Table 1 lists participant characteristics. Participants were selected using the snowball sampling method, commonly employed to access difficult-to-reach or socially isolated groups, particularly in specific populations such as individuals experiencing illnesses like cancer. According to this method, the first person contacted then contacts others, beginning the snowball process (Wasserman et al., 2005). In the current study, the primary researcher asked a few patients to initiate the chain of participant recruitment, ensuring that the first participant was informed about the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate. Interviews continued until no new information was obtained and were terminated when data saturation was reached. Participants from diverse backgrounds were intentionally included to ensure a broad representation of motherhood experiences.

TABLE 1.

Participant Characteristics (N = 19)

No.	Age (Years)	Marital Status	Children’s Age (Years)	Educational Status	Working Status	Duration of Illness	Stage of Disease	Treatment Received
1	45	Married	18	Primary	No	7 months	II	Chemo
2	47	Married	19, 26	High school	No	6 months	II	Chemo, surg
3	55	Married	31	High school	No	7 years	IV	HR
4	43	Married	8, 22	Primary	Yes	6 months	II	Chemo
5	52	Married	30, 32	Primary	Yes	3 months	II	Chemo
6	57	Single	27	High school	No	10 years	IV	HR
7	36	Married	7, 10	Primary	No	2 months	II	Chemo
8	48	Married	8, 14, 18, 19, 20	Primary	No	7 years	II	HR
9	44	Single	15	Bach	Yes	1 year	II	Chemo, surg
10	44	Married	12, 16	Bach	Yes	11 months	III	HR
11	37	Married	2	Bach	Yes	10 months	II	Chemo, surg
12	36	Married	3	Postgraduate	Yes	1 year	III	HR
13	43	Married	4, 8	Bach	Yes	2 months	II	Chemo
14	42	Married	9	Bach	No	2 months	I	Chemo
15	42	Married	15	High school	Yes	2 years	I	HR
16	42	Married	9, 17	High school	No	4 years	I	HR
17	48	Married	16	High school	No	3 years	II	HR
18	47	Married	16, 28	Primary	Yes	3 years	I	HR
19	58	Married	20, 26	High school	No	18 months	II	Chemo

bach—bachelor’s degree; chemo—chemotherapy; HR—hormone therapy; No.—participant number; primary—primary school; surg—surgery

Note. All participants were of middle economic status with the exception of participant 12, who was of high economic status.

Inclusion criteria

This study’s inclusion criteria required that all participants (a) were adult female patients with breast cancer who had received a cancer diagnosis and had begun treatment, (b) were physically able to participate in interviews and relate their experiences, and (c) had at least one child. Participants were eligible if they identified as mothers, regardless of the age of their children, marital status, socioeconomic background, or employment status. This study aimed to explore diverse life circumstances and experiences to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how different contexts shape motherhood.

Exclusion criteria

Patients with breast cancer who were physically unable to participate in interviews were excluded from the study.

Data Collection

Data were collected from June to September 2024 through individual in-depth interviews using a personal information form and semistructured interview form. At the beginning of the interviews, participants were asked to fill out the personal information form, which included detailed demographic and clinical information to provide a comprehensive profile of the participants. The semistructured interview form consisted of the following open-ended questions based on Goode’s theory of role strain and scientific literature on breast cancer and mothering (Liu et al., 2021; Lundquist et al., 2020; Mazaheri, Valizadeh, et al., 2021):

• ■ Can you tell us about the diagnosis process?

• ■ What is it like for you to live with breast cancer?

• ■ How has cancer affected your daily life?

• ■ How did your children react to your breast cancer diagnosis and treatment?

• ■ What problems did you experience in fulfilling your motherly duties during the illness?

• ■ What resources are available to help you fulfill your mothering duties?

• ■ Is there anything that you think is important that I have not asked you that you would like to add?

The questions reveal how the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer affect patients’ fulfillment of their maternal roles, as emphasized in Goode’s theory of role strain. The interviews lasted 25–40 minutes and were conducted by the primary researcher, who had prior experience in interview techniques and qualitative research. Interviews were conducted in Turkish, the vernacular of the participants, to allow them to more naturally and comfortably express their thoughts and experiences. Before beginning the interviews, the primary researcher explained the purpose of the study to the participants, and interviews were conducted in a safe and comfortable environment in which participants could provide honest and unbiased responses without interruption. Online tools were used to schedule interviews at times requested by the participants and to audio record with participants’ permission.

Data Analysis

All individual interviews were transcribed verbatim in the original language by the primary researcher, who was fluent in Turkish. The primary researcher conducted data analysis using Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenologic method. This process involves repeatedly reading participants’ statements to identify key expressions related to the phenomenon; statements are then analyzed and grouped into themes, subthemes, and categories. The findings are enriched with participants’ life experiences, the phenomenon’s conceptual structure is defined, and the results are validated through follow-up interviews with participants to ensure accuracy (Morrow et al., 2015) (see Figure 1).

FIGURE 1.

Colaizzi’s Descriptive Phenomenologic Method

Note. From “Qualitative Methods: Learning from the ‘Lifeworld,’” by J. Brooks, 2015, The Psychologist, British Psychological Society. Copyright 2015 by British Psychological Society. Adapted with permission.

Ethical Considerations

Ethics committee approval for the current study was received from İstanbul Arel University Ethics Committee (No: 12) on June 7, 2024. The study strictly followed the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki. The protection and welfare of the participants were guaranteed in all procedures involving human participation; participants were informed about audio recording of the interviews; and written and verbal consent were obtained. Participants were told that their responses and identities would be kept confidential.

Rigor

Rigor is maintained through credibility, transferability, dependability, reflexivity, and confirmability (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Credibility, which refers to confidence in the truth of the data and interpretation of the findings, was ensured through accurate representation of the participants’ views and experiences. Verbatim quotes and detailed depictions of participants’ experiences were included in the findings. To ensure transferability and dependability, the primary researcher conducted initial data analysis, and peer debriefing was used to enhance the confirmability of the data. An additional independent researcher (RN, PhD, professor) experienced in qualitative studies and treatment of patients with cancer reviewed the interview transcripts; extracted codes, categories, and themes; and confirmed the results. Reflexivity was maintained by comparing the original data with the descriptive text of derived themes to demonstrate how the derived descriptions were grounded in the data rather than in the researcher’s understanding. The primary researcher is an assistant professor and professional psychiatric nurse trained in qualitative research and experienced in in-depth individual interview techniques. The primary researcher had also worked as a clinical nurse on oncology units for at least 10 years and had been active in oncology nursing associations. Given the potential for culturally and emotionally nuanced content, special care was taken to ensure accurate translation. Translation was conducted by a bilingual expert familiar with the language and cultural context of the participants. The research team reviewed the translation and backtranslation to ensure that culturally specific expressions and emotional content were accurately captured.

Findings

Data analysis revealed four main themes and six subthemes (see Table 2).

TABLE 2.

Themes and Subthemes Reflecting Motherhood Roles and Experiences of Patients With Breast Cancer

Theme	Subtheme	Meaning Unit
Theme 1. Beyond Diagnosis: A Mother’s Resilience Through Cancer	Subtheme 1.1. Fears and worries	■ “I asked the doctor about mortality—how soon I would die, if I was going to die . . . what I should do. And [when] you have children, you think about them; this is what upsets you.” (participant 10)
	Subtheme 1.2. Trying to stay strong	■ “I never cried, always tried to stay strong for my two children; I had to stand up for them. In fact, I carried this burden all by myself.” (participant 16)
Theme 2. Between Mother and Patient: The Challenge of Maintaining Motherhood Amid Illness	Subtheme 2.1. Role confusion	■ “I no longer want to tell my daughter she should be gentle with me. Or is she supposed to be careful about me? So, I must take care of my child; my child should not do that for me. Do you get it?” (participant 12)
	Subtheme 2.2. Role failure and emotional struggles	■ “I was having a burst of rage in a random situation. I was saying OK when my child wanted something, but when he said the same thing over and over, I was getting upset, saying, ‘I already told you this.’ It was the hardest thing to experience this burst of rage and upset my child.” (participant 15)
Theme 3. Between Truth and Protection: The Child’s Emotional Response to Parental Cancer	–	■ “My daughter asked her grandfather, ‘Did my mother get sick because of me?’ Because she was 2, and just weaned when this happened. Think about it—my breasts had belonged to her. She blamed herself. I did not even notice it at all.” (participant 12)
Theme 4. Family as Lifeline: Support Systems in the Face of Cancer	Subtheme 4.1. The child is the best medicine.	■ “I am thinking about my little boy. I am receiving chemotherapy because I think about him; I would never do that otherwise. Let this thing go away, but chemotherapy is a challenging process.” (participant 2)
	Subtheme 4.2. My husband became both a mother and a father.	■ “I might be the luckiest person in the world because my husband was always there with me. He became a mother as well as a father during the whole time. I do not know how I would have coped without him. He made me think of nothing else but myself, exactly.” (participant 12)

Theme 1. Beyond Diagnosis: A Mother’s Resilience Through Cancer

Participants described the emotions they experienced when first learning of their diagnosis. They reported that although they experienced fears and worries, their children were the first thing that came to their minds. Their identity as mothers was primary, so they tried to stay strong for their children.

Subtheme 1.1. Fears and worries

Participants expressed that they were shocked when they learned that they had cancer, experiencing a feeling that the world had stopped at that moment. Their first thought was of their children. Participant 11 stated,

When I was diagnosed, I felt all the worst emotions I could feel at once . . . because my child was young, 1 year old at that time. You instantly think about death; there is probably no one who has not thought of it. Thinking that you have a child, you must figure out how to be there [for them].

Almost all participants stated that they were worried about how to talk about cancer and its potential consequences for their children. Participant 15 stated, “My son was in the third grade. I thought about how to explain this situation to him, about what kind of a life he would have if I were not there.” Some also feared that their children had a greater likelihood of genetically inheriting cancer. Finally, most participants said that they feared metastasis or recurrence.

Subtheme 1.2. Trying to stay strong

Almost all participants expressed that they were trying not to burden their children with their experiences of cancer and the treatment process, and that they were trying to remain strong for their children, which they found exhausting. Participant 15 stated,

Everything fell to pieces at that moment. Yes, I was diagnosed with cancer and became a cancer patient that day, but I was a mother first. I had to think about my child. They [my husband and child] are a huge part of my life, so I always told myself that I had to be strong for them.

Theme 2. Between Mother and Patient: The Challenge of Maintaining Motherhood Amid Illness

Participants stated that there was role confusion in the family regarding the role of motherhood because of the difficulties of the diagnosis and treatment, and that they experienced failure in fulfilling the requirements of the role of motherhood.

Subtheme 2.1. Role confusion

Most participants said that after receiving the diagnosis, they became more helpless while their children assumed a more nurturing role. Participant 2 stated,

Concerning the role of motherhood, they [my children] suddenly grew up, and I became a child. It happened like that, so they grew up in an instant, became the parents of the house, and I was a child now.

Participant 12 stated that she felt like an infant, particularly while receiving chemotherapy treatment. She said,

Bone pains, these Neupogen^® shots—you know, they hurt. Sometimes you cannot even hold a cup, or you have no power in your hands, feet, or fingers during chemotherapy treatment. It is like you become a 6- to 7-month-old baby who cannot do anything.

Subtheme 2.2. Role failure and emotional struggles

Participants expressed that they had difficulty in fulfilling the role of motherhood, experienced anxiety, and were very upset. Participant 15 stated,

For a while, my mothering duty . . . was on hold, but after getting used to sessions, I valued each day. My son loves popcorn, so I popped some for him; I was happy, as if I did the most complicated thing in the world.

Participant 12 said she could not hug her child because of the severe side effects of chemotherapy. She stated,

I have borne the huge burden of being unable to do anything mentally, of not being able to do anything that I used to do, not being able to find the energy to hold my daughter or to play with her.

In addition, participants also stated that they sometimes experienced outbursts of anger because of the effects of treatment. In particular, those with young or school-age children stated that their tolerance level decreased, negatively affecting themselves and their children.

Theme 3. Between Truth and Protection: The Child’s Emotional Response to Parental Cancer

Participants stated that their children were afraid of losing them, were very upset on learning of the diagnosis, were unaccepting, and became withdrawn, negatively affecting their school life. Participant 9 said, “I saw the worry in their eyes, like, ‘Mom, you will be fine, right?’”

Participants with school-age children expressed that their children did not want them to go out without their wigs and were ashamed in front of their friends. Participant 13 said, “My daughter did not want me to take off my scarf . . . making it clear that she did not want to see me like this.”

Most participants also shared that talking about cancer with their children was incredibly challenging. Participant 12 stated, “We sat and talked for a while. It was difficult to talk about breast cancer with a 2-year-old. Honestly, that was the most challenging part for me in this whole process.” Some participants with young or school-age children stated that they hid their diagnosis from their children, only sharing that they were sick. Participant 15 stated,

I did not hide the process from my child; we explained it together with the details when the diagnosis was made. Like, if I have a disease, I will be treated, and my hair and eyebrows will fall out. We did not say it was cancer.

Some participants, on the other hand, explained the situation with the assistance of a professional or in simpler language that the child could understand.

Theme 4. Family as Lifeline: Support Systems in the Face of Cancer

Participants stated that the support they received from their children and family members, particularly their spouses, was their most vital coping resource during the challenges they experienced.

Subtheme 4.1. The child is the best medicine

Participants stated that they survived the chemotherapy process thanks to their children’s presence and affection, and that their children were the best medicine. Participant 6 said,

If I had not become a mother, I would not have been as strong and resilient—that is a fact. Because you have a child who connects you to life, and she is the best medicine for you.

Participants shared that their children were a great support and that the time spent with them during treatment was particularly rewarding. Participant 11 stated, “Your child is a huge support; she was good for me, and we had an enjoyable time. She provided psychological support for me.”

Subtheme 4.2. My husband became both a mother and a father

Participants stated that support from friends and family members contributed significantly to their ability to cope during treatment. In particular, they expressed that their spouses were their biggest supporters, taking care of them while being both a mother and a father to their children. Participant 15 said,

For a while, my husband was both a mother and a father because I had become a child, too. I also needed attention; lying in bed, our child wanted something. I heard him say to our son that he would be right there after helping Mom eat, and it made me both happy and sad.

Discussion

To the author’s knowledge, the current study is the first to examine the lived experiences of Turkish mothers with breast cancer from a phenomenologic, qualitative perspective. The data revealed four main themes. Regarding the first main theme, participants stated that regardless of their children’s age, their maternal identity was primary. They were initially shocked by the cancer diagnosis, which was followed by fears and worries they experienced for their children. According to Lundquist et al. (2020), patients stated that the most challenging aspect of being a young woman with advanced-stage cancer was primarily that of being a mother. The current study also found that women with breast cancer experienced fear of death and leaving their children behind. They were worried about their children’s future and recurrence of cancer, even if the treatment process was over, regardless of their age and disease stage. Unfortunately, many still believe that cancer is incurable and inevitably leads to death (Paltun, 2020). In a study by Billhult and Segesten (2003), mothers with breast cancer indicated that they had difficulty striking a balance between the potential threat posed by cancer and the needs of their children at home. The diagnosis of cancer results in many psychosocial problems in patients. The fact that women with breast cancer carry additional emotional burdens associated with being a mother can make an already challenging process even more severe. Participants in the current study stated that they tried not to burden their children with the challenges they experienced and that they tried to stay strong by putting their children first. Goode’s (1960) theory highlights the tension individuals experience when struggling to cope while fulfilling unfamiliar roles. In the current study, mothers ignoring their own needs may have made the coping process more difficult. In this context, oncology nurses should develop their awareness of and monitor the emotional fatigue experienced by mothers with breast cancer.

Regarding the second main theme, participants stated that although they attempted to fulfill their role as mothers, this role was interrupted, particularly when receiving chemotherapy. Their roles at home changed, and their children suddenly assumed a more nurturing role. It has been reported that breast cancer shifts women’s roles from caregivers to care receivers, adversely affecting their ability to fulfill maternal and familial responsibilities (Mazaheri, Valizadeh, et al., 2021; Zamanzadeh et al., 2021). In the current study, the mothers’ inability to fulfill such roles may be because of the burden of the disease and the strain of managing multiple challenging and unfamiliar roles, as discussed in Goode’s (1960) theory. In addition, the study’s findings may suggest that mothers with young, dependent, or school-age children may experience more severe role strain and feelings of failure. In a systematic review of the experiences of women with breast cancer, Liu et al. (2021) also stated that as wives and mothers, women were the maintainers of the family; however, they experienced role failure because of the physical and emotional burdens of treatment.

In the current study, participants also mentioned that they sometimes experienced outbursts of rage because of the effects of treatment, negatively affecting themselves and their children. In particular, being close to one’s children is a priority for young mothers, and maintaining the motherly role requires doing everything one would usually do for one’s children; however, this is not an easy process after a cancer diagnosis (Lundquist et al., 2020). Mothers in the current study, particularly those with young or school-age children, found it difficult to respond to their children’s needs, sharing that their children were burdened with psychological challenges. The current study’s findings show that mothers with breast cancer bore the heavy emotional burden of not being able to fulfill their usual roles or sufficiently care for their children. In their study on Iranian culture, Mazaheri, Ghahramanian, et al. (2021) indicated that although mothers with breast cancer try to prioritize their maternal duties, the physical limitations caused by cancer and the treatment process, compounded with societal expectations, make coordinating self-care and childcare activities difficult. Goode’s (1960) theory also highlights that high expectations can increase the tension one experiences when attempting to fulfill certain roles. Although the roles attributed to women in Turkish society may cause women with breast cancer to feel extra burden or pressure, similar experiences of mothers with breast cancer living in different countries, such as Iran, Australia, or the United States, reflect a universal feeling of motherhood and reveal how breast cancer diagnosis and treatment disrupt women’s maternal role (Fisher & O’Connor, 2012; Lundquist et al., 2020; Mazaheri, Ghahramanian, et al., 2021). In this context, the current study provides evidence for nurses regarding the need for additional support for mothers diagnosed with breast cancer.

The third main theme revealed numerous psychological reactions that children of mothers with breast cancer experience. The current study found that regardless of age, children experienced fear of losing their mothers in addition to emotions such as anxiety, sadness, shame, guilt, and anger, resulting in self-isolation or difficulties in school. Most participants stated that their children did not want to see them without a scarf or wig, which may be associated with a sense of shame or children’s inability to fully understand the process their mothers are experiencing. According to Lund-quist et al. (2020), women with breast cancer are aware of the emotional burden experienced by their children; however, very few can provide sufficient psychological support. Fisher and O’Connor (2012) also stated that when parents talk to their children about cancer, they usually focus on providing information, which sometimes causes them to ignore children’s emotions and reactions. Similarly, the emotional burden experienced by children of women with breast cancer confirms that cancer is a family disease, revealing the need for additional psychological support for these children. The impact of cancer on the children of mothers living with the disease points to the need for the involvement of parent–child dyads during cancer care. Participants mentioned the difficulty of explaining cancer to their children, particularly younger children. Mothers with breast cancer generally want to be honest with their children while at the same time protect them. This may result in a conflict between protecting one’s child from the fear of their mother’s death and also meeting their need for information (Billhult & Segesten, 2003). Some participants in the current study mentioned that they hid the diagnosis and the entire process from their children, particularly younger children. Fisher and O’Connor (2012) also stated that parents, particularly those of young children, are reluctant to talk about cancer with their children because of the perception that they are too young to understand or that adult language may confuse them, causing them to become more anxious. Speaking to children in a manner appropriate to their age group, along with the assistance of professional support, may prevent women with breast cancer from carrying extra psychological burden. The findings of the current study also underscore that younger and older children of mothers with cancer may have different emotional, cognitive, or behavioral responses, which may affect their adjustment to diagnosis and treatment differently.

Regarding the fourth main theme, participants stated that the most powerful sources of support came from children and family members, particularly from spouses. They mentioned that their children connected them to life and were a source of motivation. Similarly, Lundquist et al. (2020) stated that women with breast cancer desire to spend as much time as possible with their children, particularly when they feel relatively well, focusing on behaviors and activities that they can enjoy with their children. In a systematic review of the experiences of women with breast cancer, Liu et al. (2021) reported that social support, particularly from family members, helps women overcome the treatment process comfortably, safely, and happily. The same study mentioned that family support systems, such as parents, children, spouses, and siblings, play the most crucial role in improving the family’s motivation to overcome the difficulties of meeting the needs of a patient with cancer. Participants in the current study also stated that they were able to cope more comfortably thanks to the support they received from family members (particularly their spouses). It has been shown that when one spouse has cancer, the other spouse’s parenting efforts increase (Semple & McCance, 2010). Mazaheri, Valizadeh, et al. (2021) found that in addition to spousal support, the social support chain provided by friends and neighbors can also relieve the burden that mothers with breast cancer experience. According to Goode’s (1960) theory, when such resources are insufficient, the individual may experience increased tension. With sufficient support, mothers may better cope with the challenges brought about by cancer diagnosis and treatment. Oncology nurses have an essential role in helping patients manage the process and achieve balance in family life by identifying sources of support and encouraging the development of coping strategies.

Limitations

The findings obtained from the current study are limited to the nature of qualitative research and participants’ experiences. One of the study’s limitations involves the diversity of participants with young or adult children. Future studies could focus more specifically on how the role of motherhood shifts over time and across different developmental stages of children, offering a more nuanced understanding of how maternal responsibilities and identities evolve. In addition, the current study was conducted in a single country and culture; findings may vary in different regions or countries. This is the first qualitative study to examine the experiences of mothers with breast cancer in Türkiye, constituting a starting point for subsequent qualitative and quantitative research on this phenomenon.

Implications for Nursing

Oncology nurses should be aware that mothers with breast cancer experience heightened emotional burden and should incorporate additional support into their nursing care by identifying and acknowledging women’s feelings and thoughts about the role of motherhood and the difficulties they experience. In addition, nurses should identify sources of support and help patients develop individual coping methods. In particular, mothers with young children should receive professional support in talking about cancer with their children to prevent the potential negative effects on their and their children’s mental health. In addition, the emotions experienced by children of mothers with breast cancer should be carefully monitored, with psychological support provided when necessary.

Conclusion

The current study determined that women with breast cancer first thought about death when receiving their diagnosis, that their maternal identity was prioritized over cancer, and that they were worried about their children. It also found that breast cancer diagnosis and treatment negatively affect women’s ability to fulfill the role of motherhood, regardless of location and culture, and that, in addition to the burden of cancer, women carried emotional burdens caused by feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and fear related to the role of motherhood. Participants also expressed that trying to stay strong for their children while protecting them from their experience of cancer and cancer treatment was exhausting. The study revealed that mothers’ experiences with cancer also caused psychological reactions in their children. Future interventional studies involving coping programs for the difficulties or psychosocial problems that mothers with breast cancer (and their children) experience are recommended.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION.

• ■ Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment processes negatively affect women’s ability to fulfill the role of motherhood, causing them to experience several psychosocial problems.

• ■ Because the children of women with breast cancer also experience psychological reactions and have difficulty coping, their emotions should be monitored so that psychological support can be provided when necessary.

• ■ Oncology nurses should monitor the difficulties, feelings, and thoughts that mothers with breast cancer experience and support patients in developing individual coping methods.