Limitaciones

When asked what support services participants had used, other than POS, three of the women diagnosed with cancer had used the Look Good, Feel Better Service

offered by the local Cancer Society. The Look Good, Feel Better Service offers women diagnosed with cancer free makeover workshops with the aim to improve their quality of life, body image and self-esteem by enhancing their appearance during and after treatment. Research has shown that, for women with poor body image and low self- esteem, these workshops improved self-image, social interaction and reduced anxiety, but did not strengthen social support (Taggart et al., 2009).

In addition to providing them with free makeup and lessons to improve their looks, Lorraine, Sarah and Rose found benefit in being able to share the experience with people at various stages of their cancer journey. Lorraine found benefit in her perception that she was less affected by her cancer than others, while Sarah and Rose were

comforted by feeling that others were going through the same journey.

Yeah that was good. The Look Good, Feel Better thing was great um and I actually volunteer at that now um I found that that was really, really good and it just made you feel better about yourself and made you aware that there were other people out there that, while you'd had cancer and you shouldn't dismiss it, there are people out there you know that have got the lot of a more rockier road than what you are on so it made you think “hang on get a grip”, sort of thing {Laughs} (Lorraine – POS)

I went to a couple of things at the Cancer Association, the Look Good Feel Better which was almost kind of, as I sat there I thought, apart from the good thing that there was a range of people who were affected by cancer, for me …….my looks and my makeup and stuff had never really bothered me, although practical advice of how to draw an eyebrow and stuff was really good, so um. And there was like massage therapy there so that was, that was quite good to have those kind of services. (Sarah – POS)

Although Rose had not used POS and would not have done even if offered it she still reached out to support provided by another agency beyond her own social network and her husband.

Well I, I was amazed at what you came home with, actually. The generosity of the firms that donate the makeup and um, the people who come around to help on that day. No, you came away feeling better, you saw other people who were in various stages of treatment. And thought oh, well, we’re all in much the same boat. (Rose - NI)

In summary, all groups found that they benefited from both the emotional and practical support they received or provided. They described friends and family as sharing their journey in feeling that they could talk with them about their cancer experiences. Participants also felt supported practically with friends and family attending hospital appointments, cooking meals and taking them out. Support from partners was particularly valued especially by those with breast cancer who held concerns that losing their breast would negatively affect their relationship. All groups reported having emotional and practical support from family/whānau, friends and Services outside POS. However, as discussed in Chapter 6, despite feeling happy with the support of their social network the research by Ferrell et al., (2003) did show that there can still exist a feeling of disconnection from others who do not have cancer.

7.4 Participant Group Differences

No differences emerged between groups regarding how participants coped with their or their family member’s cancer diagnosis. Participants from all cancer groups felt that they needed further information about their illness and made active efforts to research their cancer and also made lifestyle changes. All cancer participant groups expressed feeling supported by family, friends and other support services. It would

seem, however, that the former POS clients’ social support may not have been sufficient to meet their emotional needs at the time they sought help from POS. Research by Finfgeld-Connett, (2005) revealed that the important aspects of effective support are that the cancer patient feels the person providing the support is trustworthy, reliable and available. All NI participants apart from Grace commented that they would not have used POS if offered it. Grace stated that she would have liked to have used the Service and also reflected in her interview that she did not greatly discuss her husband’s cancer diagnosis with others. All other NI participants expressed feeling they had adequate support from family and friends. Rose commented on past experiences helping them cope with her diagnosis and conveyed connecting more as a family at times of stress. Well. I sort of haven’t taken part in everything. We have moved around, and we’ve learnt with the moves that we’ve turned into ourselves, as a family. When you move, you uproot yourselves, I mean, the first time, well I was quite upset when we moved. Um. But we’ve found that as a family, I think we sort of turn to each other. Ahm, and I think that’s probably what we’ve done when

[Bill].was diagnosed with prostate cancer as well. (Rose - NI)

Jim described developing his own support group by reaching out and connecting to other men and women who had cancer.

I think um, friends critical part. Friends, the hospital staff and this sort of funny network that developed, of people with cancer. (Jim - NI)

Interviewer: Like your own, own support group?

Yes. Yeah, we, we sort of I don’t think we intentionally set out to form it, but it happened. And then others came on board, like [name]... um. She said I wish that I had people close by me that I could talk with and um, so I said well just don’t hesitate to pick up the phone, and, and that’s what happened. (Jim - NI)

7.5 Summary

This chapter examined themes which emerged relating to the ways in which participants dealt with their cancer diagnosis that reduced their distress. The three sub- themes which arose were Taking Control, Being Positive, and Support. Some

participants felt that they were not provided enough information regarding their cancer and so took control by actively seeking out information either from others or by written media and the internet. The sub-theme of Healthy behaviours emerged as a means of control for some participants who gained control over their cancer, by exercising or changing their diets. Having a positive attitude toward their diagnosis helped some participants cope with their distress and they reported being determined to cope and expecting to survive. In addition this positive attitude allowed participants to see positives aspects of their cancer journey in developing closer relationships, with

improved communication with loved ones and friends and in helping others. All groups found that they received both emotional and practical support from different sources including family/whānau, friends, other support services and medical staff although some NI participants actively sought the support they needed. Their social networks, including family, acted as a buffer to the distress that the participants were experiencing which is consistent with previous research findings (e.g. DiMatteo, 2004; Dunn et al., 2003; Finfgeld-Connett, 2005; Lewis et al., 2001).

CHAPTER 8