Battling Breast Cancer: Women’s Narratives of Struggle, Family Support and Survival from Rural Sindh, Pakistan

Nadia Agha,Maliha Gull Tarar

doi:10.46521/pjws.026.01.0015

Abstract

Breast cancer poses a major health risk to Pakistani women causing 40,000 deaths annually in Pakistan (Pink Ribbon 2019). Based on 40 in-depth interviews with women who have been treated for breast cancer from rural Sindh, this study explores the extent to which families, living in rural and less developed areas with poor socio-economic conditions, provide support to the patients. The results show that women as well as their husbands’ level of education and awareness is correlated to delayed access to medical services. Our findings show that husband’s support and empathy has a therapeutic effect on cancer patients. Women’s well-being and self-esteem was strongly associated with how men saw and dealt with their disease. Based on the findings, we recommend introducing awareness raising programmes and a well-integrated social support system to help the patients and particularly men who control women’s lives.

Highlights

Throughout the world, breast cancer is the most frequent form of cancer among women and poses a major health risk to them (Bray et al 2013; Jemal et al 2011; Hunter 2000)
According to the Pakistan Economic Survey (Government of Pakistan 2018), the female literacy rate stood at 65% in urban areas and 19% in rural Sindh in 2015-16
Based on the findings of this study, it is suggested that we introduce a nationwide programme on breast cancer awareness and implement interventions at the local level with a special focus on rural and remote areas

Summary

Introduction

Throughout the world, breast cancer is the most frequent form of cancer among women and poses a major health risk to them (Bray et al 2013; Jemal et al 2011; Hunter 2000). The situation is even worse in low-income countries where women have limited treatment and screening facilities, low awareness level, financial constraints and cultural barriers to access the available treatment options (Coughlin & Ekwueme 2009; Porter 2008). Because of these constraints in low-income countries, breast cancer is usually detected when the patient is in the later stages. Breast cancer patients in these countries have limited access to adequate treatment services because of major mobility related restrictions In such circumstances, women‟s education and awareness is crucial for effective clinical examination, screening methods, mammography and removal of individual and structural barriers (Crawford et al 2016; Paskett & Stark 2000)

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Conclusion