Breast Cancer Survivorship among African Immigrant Women: A Qualitative Inquiry

Over the years, researchers have employed qualitative inquiry to elucidate cultural understandings of health and illness, and their implications for educational outreach efforts and clinical practices. In this study, we describe the breast cancer experience of African immigrant women in the United States, how they craft their stories from diagnosis through treatment, and the impact of breast cancer on their lives. We conducted interviews with ten African immigrant breast cancer survivors living in Houston, Texas. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and reviewed several times in order to identify major themes underlying participants’ stories. Participants were from Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya. Their ages ranged from 38 to 65 years old; surviving breast cancer for one to 25 years. Only two of the participants had a family history of breast cancer. Also, most of the participants’ diagnoses (six) were discovered through breast self-exam. The four major themes that emerged in this study are: African identity and disclosure, exposure, womanhood and sexuality, and linguistic gap / lost in translation. To illustrate each theme, direct quotes from participants have been included. To our knowledge, this study represents the first formative research endeavor exploring the experience of African breast cancer survivors, and it shows a unique perspective on how these women conceptualize their experience with breast cancer. It also provides great insights into how African immigrant women see themselves in relation to other breast cancer survivors living in the United States. Study findings also have implications for future breast health promotion initiatives and policy recommendations.