What psychological mechanisms are used to understand how people make sense of a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis?

Abstract

Chapter One of this thesis is a systematic review exploring the experiences of sex and intimacy for LGBTQ+ persons following cancer. APA PsycArticles, APA PsycBooks, APA PsycExtra, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant literature. A thematic synthesis of was used to identify analytic and descriptive themes from 32 qualitative research papers on this topic. Five analytical themes were identified: ‘‘Positioning of self in relation to sex determines acceptance of sexual dysfunction’, ‘Experience of sex and intimacy varies depending on relationship status’, ‘Moving away from penetrative sex’, ‘Distress is due to disruption to sexual identity’ and ‘Communication with others informs how sex after cancer is experienced’. This review suggests that changing sexual behaviours to encompass non-penetrative sexual practices may be helpful by allowing the person to continue to engage in altered sexual practice. It highlights how communication with others is important when working with sexual dysfunction and discusses how professionals can support this. Chapter Two explores how people make sense of a diagnosis of Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). It was suggested that the Dual Processing Model (DPM) or the Reintegration Model could be used to understand this process. 14 women with MBC were interviewed using a semi-structured interview, which was then subject to Deductive Thematic Analysis. In line with this approach, pattern matching was then completed to explore which models offer a good fit to the data. It was identified that both the DPM and the Reintegration Model offer a good fit to the data however an amalgamation of the two models is suggested to encompass external factors and internal processes that may contribute to the process of making sense of MBC. This research highlights the importance of oscillation and suggests that clinicians are mindful of this within their clinical practice.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Olivia Ferrie: orcid.org/0000-0002-7466-9087

ORCID for Pete Lawrence: orcid.org/0000-0001-6181-433X

ORCID for Katy Sivyer: orcid.org/0000-0003-4349-0102

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