Table 2.

Emerging Themes and Sub-Themes

Overarching Themes	Sub-themes	Descriptive themes	Primary themes
Challenges associated with breast cancer	Inevitable role as a mother	Protective attitude towards children	Avoid presence at children’s school, shield children from hospital, reveal little info on breast cancer and false display of positive strength to children.
		Continued role as a mother	Treatment plans according to children / family schedule, domestic duties, and communication with children on BC; breast feeding
		Gestational Pregnancy	Abortion, choice of surgery and unborn child’s health, deferred treatment
	“Who am I?”	Body image	Physical change, Psychological change (feel less attractive, embarrassed) Social Dysfunction, reluctance to look naked at oneself, loss of identity
		Femininity	Loss of fertility, Loss of breast (s) and Cessation of period
		Sexuality	Loss of sexual interest, Sexual dysfunction and feeling unattractive to partner
“So, you have survived. What’s next?”		Attitude towards life	Resilience and Optimism, Acceptance, Greater appreciation towards life, Meaning of life, Volunteering to help others, Personal growth
		Self- empowerment	Reprioritise life choices/ lifestyles and Acquire greater knowledge (self- education)
Alternative coping strategies		Positive coping strategies	Social distraction, Physical alteration (tattoo, wig), Personal goal based strategies and Cognitive avoidance
		Negative coping strategies	Drug or alcohol and Use of anger