Emerging from the “ku”: Fluctuating in adjusting with breast cancer -- Chinese women’s experiences

This research explored what are the processes that Chinese women go through in living with breast cancer. The findings identified that the women go through a fluctuating adjustment process in living with their illness. This process is influenced by personal factors, social-environmental factors and some specific cultural features. The findings of this research advance the knowledge of Chinese women's adjustment processes and post-traumatic experiences. This research informs the need for new support programs for Chinese women during their breast cancer journey. It highlights that nurses, in China and multi-cultural settings, require further education in understanding the cultural specific processes that Chinese women use, to enable nurses to support and encourage this group of women with adjusting to living with breast cancer.