중년 여성의 유방암 생존 경험에 대한 질적 연구
A Qualitative Study on the Survivorship Experience of Middle-Aged Women with Breast Cancer
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유방암은중년여성에게가장흔하게발생하는암중하나로, 의료기술의발전으로생존율이 높아지면서‘암이후의삶’에대한관심이점차확대되고있다. 그러나생존이후의삶은단순히 신체적회복에국한되지않으며, 심리적·정서적변화와사회적관계의재구성이동반되는복합적인 과정이다. 이에따라유방암생존자의경험을심층적으로이해하는질적접근이요구된다. 목적: 본연구는중년여성유방암생존자들이진단과치료, 그리고치료이후의삶에서경험하는 심리적·정서적변화와사회적의미를탐색하고, 이를통해암생존자의회복과삶의재정립과정을 질적으로이해하는것을목적으로한다. 방법: 연구참여자는유방암진단후치료를마치고일상생활로복귀한중년여성12명으로, 반구조화된심층면담을통해자료를수집하였다. 자료분석은Braun과Clarke(2006)의주제분석 (thematic analysis) 방법을적용하여수행하였으며, 참여자의서사에내재한반복되는의미와 패턴을중심으로핵심주제를도출하였다. 결과: 분석결과, 중년여성유방암생존자의경험은① 충격과초기반응, ② 신체적·정서적변화, ③ 사회적지지의역할, ④ 치료이후삶의재정의의네가지중심주제로분류되었다. 진단초기에는 자아붕괴감과상실감이주를이루었으며, 치료과정에서는여성성의상실, 자기이미지변화에 따른심리적갈등이나타났다. 가족, 의료진, 친구로부터의정서적·정보적지지는회복의완충 역할을 하였으며, 치료 이후에는 생존자가 삶의 목적과 정체성을 새롭게 재정립하는 경향을 보였다. 논의및결론: 본연구는유방암생존자의경험을단순한질병극복의서사가아닌, 자아정체성과 삶의의미를재구성해가는심층적과정으로조망하였다. 이에따라생존자의회복을위한맞춤형 심리사회적개입과지속가능한지지체계의필요성이제기된다. 향후연구및정책개발에서는 생존자의목소리를반영한통합적암생존자돌봄모델구축이필요하다
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among middle-aged women, and with advances in medical technology, survival rates have steadily increased, leading to growing interest in life after cancer. However, life after survival extends beyond physical recovery, involving complex processes of psychological and emotional change as well as the reorganization of social relationships. Therefore, a qualitative approach is needed to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of breast cancer survivors. Purpose: This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of middle-aged female breast cancer survivors, focusing on the psychological, emotional, and social changes they undergo from diagnosis through post-treatment life. The goal was to gain a deeper understanding of their recovery and redefinition of life from a qualitative perspective. Methods: Participants were 12 middle-aged women who had completed breast cancer treatment and returned to daily life. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis. Recurring meanings and patterns within participants’ narratives were identified to extract major themes. Results: The analysis revealed four central themes: (1) shock and initial reactions, (2) physical and emotional changes, (3) the role of social support, and (4) redefining life after treatment. Participants described the diagnosis as a psychologically destabilizing experience accompanied by a loss of identity. During treatment, changes in physical appearance and self-image caused internal conflicts related to femininity and self-worth. Support from family, healthcare professionals, and peers played a critical buffering role in emotional recovery. After treatment, participants experienced a process of reestablishing their sense of self and purpose, reflecting post-traumatic growth. Conclusion: Breast cancer survivorship among middle-aged women should be understood not merely as medical recovery but as a complex process of psychosocial transformation. This study highlights the need for tailored psychological and social interventions, as well as integrated support systems that extend beyond the treatment period to facilitate survivors’ long-term wellbeing and identity reconstruction.