Social Research on Breast Cancer

MelodyPopx

My name is Melanie Miller and I am a 20-year-old student at the University of Edinburgh. I am currently entering the 3^rd year of my Sociology Honours degree, which, in part, involves carrying out an extensive social research project, which spans over the final two years of my university career. This entails creating, researching, examining and evaluating a topic of my choice through the use of primary research in order to enhance and develop my sociological skills and understanding of processes, relationships and norms in the social world.

I am in the process of contacting women, like yourself, through the internet to propose the possibility of being able to involve you in my research. However, I am extremely conscious of the fact the subject matter at hand is very sensitive and often difficult to comprehend and approach; many people suffering from breast cancer may feel vulnerable and it may be considered upsetting, intrusive and complicated to research and discuss; this is an ethical issue which must be taken into account, of which I would be constantly alert to during the course of my research process. I would obviously do my utmost to be as respectful and attentive to the needs and wishes of those I was working with.

Principally, the project must involve primary qualitative research, that is, data and information that is focused on meaning, experience and process, which is rich in detail and open to complexity and variety. Research techniques are likely to involve some, or all, of the following: observation, both participant or non-participant, qualitative interviews, questionnaires or surveys, documentary of events and secondary analysis of previous literature.

The concept of the project is still very new and daunting. After an introductory lecture regarding the basic notion of the project, my initial thoughts on a feasible subject area turned to the social effects of breast cancer. As I am sure you are aware, it is a disease which affects millions of woman worldwide, and for many, it is a very real part of everyday life, which I believe makes it a genuine and significant social topic to research, as it is something which many people can relate to. I feel that through actively involving those who have experienced breast cancer in their lives in some shape or form, I can connect my findings to wider social beliefs surrounding cancer and compare differing perspectives on how the disease affects lives.

Breast cancer has personally touched myself and my family's lives through the loss of a close relative to the disease. I am genuinely interested to learn more about the dynamics of breast cancer; how sufferers feel about it both emotionally and physically, people's reactions to and perceptions of those with breast cancer, the psychological adaptations sufferers employ in order to cope with and comprehend their diagnosis and illness, the concepts of hope and belief in a cure and the notion of escapism, are just a few of the possible ideas I have in mind that I would like to investigate and gain a deeper understanding of within my project.

Obviously, the planning, development and arrangement of my project is at its earliest stage, there are a lot of areas to cover and ideas to consider, but I have come up with a very basic research question to try create a focal point for the direction of where I would like my research to head:

 "An investigation into the social dynamics of breast cancer: how the disease effects and changes relationships and identity."

Obviously, this is subject to alteration depending entirely upon the final methods and design of my project. I have also put thought into the different types of people I would like to involve in my research, for example, people who are currently suffering from breast cancer, people who have suffered from breast cancer in the past, friends and family who have had someone close to them suffer from the disease and people who are involved in caring for and treating those suffering from breast cancer. In doing this, I feel I would gain greater scope in interpreting how different groups of people who play different roles understand and deal with the disease.

Having given you this information regarding my intentions, I will understand completely if you think that my research would be too interfering or inappropriate, and I will be able to reconsider my options at this early stage of planning.

If anyone is interested in helping me out, please email me on taper_jean_girlx@hotmail.co.uk or get in touch through this website.

Best Wishes.

Melanie

hollyann

Mel, you need to get ther moderator's permission to do this...We are not research material....

Mouser

But she's not doing the research yet -- she's just asking us whether we would find this sort of research intrusive, and maybe asking for comments on subtopics (because what you've outlined, Melody, is a life's work!). Whether we would encourage her to go ahead and develop her idea, or discourage her because we think it's intrusive.

I'd like to have someone look at how having cancer changes one's identity and one's relationships. From this board, i get the impression that everyone but me is very upbeat... Are they really? ....That said  -- would i take part in such research as a subject?  I don't know ... Depends on what the narrower question is, whether i'm in the mood for a questionnaire that week (if that's what the method calls for) ....

I guess my take is - go ahead, Melody. Develop the idea. Work with your mentor on how to narrow the topic, the choice of subjects, the vehicle for interviews, etc -- i think you'll find many women with breast cancer will be willing to get involved, and a lot of interesting information could come out of it.

Good luck - and let us know what happens, even if you don't actually come back here for the project!

Deirdre1

Mouser - take a look at "something's missing"  (In DCIS) I was shocked to find so many women who were not as "up beat" as I thought!.. And I agree with you - I'd like the world to know that it is not all pink balloons and pink ribbons - some days it's just a pile of        , well you fill in the blanks.

SoCalLisa

Melanie...I think you can get an idea of how this effects our selves, our lives and the lives of our families if you read some of the different forums on this site...it would be best to get the ok of our moderators...