Coping and Perceived Quality of Life After Breast Reconstruction: Experiences of Filipina Breast Cancer Survivors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2026.441xKeywords:
Breast cancer, Breast reconstruction, Coping strategies, Filipino women, Quality of lifeAbstract
Qualitative evidence on how Filipina breast cancer survivors experience breast reconstruction is scarce. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to describe survivors’ coping strategies and their perceptions of reconstruction in relation to body image, daily life, and well-being. Six Filipina survivors who underwent or attempted reconstruction after mastectomy took part. The researcher conducted individual video-call interviews from April 2025 to March 2026 and analyzed them thematically. Five themes were developed. Participants described coping through faith, family, peers, and activity, alongside financial strain, limited information, and long waits in public care. Decisions involved body image, physician advice, and emotional well-being. Four participants described greater confidence or comfort after reconstruction; four reported pain, sleep difficulty, movement limitation, or costs; and one described unsuccessful reconstruction. These retrospective perceptions, not measured outcomes, may inform balanced, individualized counseling and attention to participant-identified support needs.
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