Family support or intervention since your diagnosis.

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GraceOforiwa
GraceOforiwa Member Posts: 6
edited October 2020 in Share Your Experiences Of Life After A Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Hi Everyone,

I am a BC survivor and I was diagnosed at the age of 26, I am now 38. Since then I have always wanted to help survivors like myself. I was finally accepted to a PhD program last Fall and since then I have felt that my prayers were answered, because I can officially start doing research in the area of BC to spread the word and knowledge on how to support BC survivors and their families, and help young girls be aware of BC to promote early detection.

When I was diagnosed, there were no previous family members who had been diagnosed in my family and even now, no-one in my family has had it. So, the experience and support from my family was unique and I felt they didn't really know how to support me.

I am currently in my second year of the program, and I am currently doing a study based on family-based interventions on the Quality of Life for the BC survivor, and I would like to interview BC survivors with one or two family members. This research is quite important because I would like to understand, like in my case, how families support BC survivors and how that impacts the life of the BC survivor. I am looking for volunteers to interview and when the study is complete, I am willing to share the research with you. I will never use your real name and no one will ever know that you participated in this study. If you agree to participate in the study, I will send you a consent form before you agree to a time to meet virtually for us to chat. Due to the pandemic, all the interviews will be done and recorded via Zoom or any other platform you prefer.

I hope you will volunteer to help me achieve my dream of becoming a Breast Cancer scholar. I look forward to hearing from you all. Feel free to reply here on the platform or you can email me directly at gopokoo@gmail.com or gs901518@ohio.edu (this is just for you to know that I am indeed a student in a school in Ohio).

Thanking you in advance!

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  • GraceOforiwa
    GraceOforiwa Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2020

    Hi There,

    How did your families react to you being diagnosed with breast cancer? Did they do any specific interventions like come together and decide how to support you. Or did they not do anything that you felt was supportive or that helped you in your survivorship journey?

    I remember when I was diagnosed, that was 13 years ago. My family did not know how to react. I remember my Mom and my elder sister when the only ones who really spoke to me and tried to give me some kind of support. My Mom also went with me to some of my appointments, then after my surgeries my aunt and sisters took time to look after me. I guess the main intervention I recall was how the women in my life would look after me since I was having a bilateral mastectomy done. I was only 26, single and I had just started working, so it was hard. But looking back, the women in my life did what they could and I will forever be grateful.

    What did your family do for you, please share your story.

    Regards,

    Grace

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  • SimoneRC
    SimoneRC Member Posts: 419
    edited October 2020

    Hi Grace,

    Just curious if you are the same Grace referenced in the Moderator post “The Effect of Family Based Interventions on Quality of Life” in the Survey, Interviews and Participant Requests: Need Your Help Topic? If so, would you mind editing your post above for full disclosure? If you are the same person, you are posting here to support your work, not just as a woman looking for advice or wanting to share.

    Thanks, and good luck with your project.

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  • GraceOforiwa
    GraceOforiwa Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2020

    Hi SimoneRC,

    I am the same person, but I am not using any of this for my research. There are rules I have to follow as a doctoral student and I would have to get permission to use what people share here and that is not my plan. For my study I have to get permission from my university and I got that from the board. This is me really seeking to know what others have been through and that is why I shared my story. I would be violating the university rules if I use any information here.

    I just wanted to share and ask my pink sisters what they have been through.

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  • SimoneRC
    SimoneRC Member Posts: 419
    edited October 2020

    Thanks for clarifying. Good luck with your project.

    Pink Sisters???? Must be October;-)




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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited October 2020

    Perhaps you could fill out your information to reassure members that you're not fishing for information for your project on this page. And "pink sisters?" - puh-leeeze, just no.

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  • GraceOforiwa
    GraceOforiwa Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2020

    Oh I am sorry, I didn't know the Pink sisters is a no no. Sorry ladies and I will fill in my information to put everyone at ease.

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