Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore coping with breast cancer in Iranian women.

Method: In this qualitative study, 19 patients with breast cancer were interviewed about their coping with receiving the diagnosis of their illness. The interviews were analyzed through content thematic method.

Results: The main themes obtained in this study include coping with the disease using a religious approach (acceptance of the disease as God’s willing, seeking spiritual help), thinking about the disease (positive think- ing: hope, positive suggestion, curability of the disease, intentional forget- fulness negative thinking: hopelessness, fear, impaired mental image), accepting the fact of disease (active acceptance: fighting the disease, patience passive acceptance), social and cultural factors effective for coping (reactions of society to the disease, presence of same groups) and support of loved ones.

Conclusion: Most strategies for coping with breast cancer in newly diagnosed women is positive and based on fighting with the disease and not to give in. Religious beliefs play a major role.