Article

I’m Still Mom: Young Mothers Living With Advanced Breast Cancer

Debra M. Lundquist

Donna L. Berry

Marie Boltz

Susan A. DeSanto-Madeya

Pamela J. Grace

young women, advanced cancer, parenting, breast cancer, motherhood
ONF 2020, 47(4), 405-414. DOI: 10.1188/20.ONF.405-414

Purpose: To conduct a detailed content analysis of the theme “I’m still Mom” as described by young women living with advanced breast cancer.

Participants & Setting: 12 young adult women living with advanced breast cancer were recruited from across the United States.

Methodologic Approach: van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenologic method was used to analyze qualitative data from interviews and establish subthemes.

Findings: Women were a mean age of 36 years and had at least one child. The following three subthemes emerged from the overarching theme of I’m still Mom: (a) being Mom is hard, (b) time is short, and (c) it’s not easy for my kids.

Implications for Nursing: This study provides a foundation for additional research that can inform family-centered education and interventions to help align the parenting priorities of this cohort of women, as well as optimize their quality of life.

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