Reconfiguring Priorities: Breastfeeding Decision-making Among Young Breast Cancer Survivors.

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer survivors face unique challenges in breastfeeding decisions. Limited research exists on the experiences and decision-making processes of young women with breast cancer regarding breastfeeding.

Objective: To explain the decision-making processes of young women with breast cancer in relation to breastfeeding throughout the cancer trajectory.

Methods: A constructivist grounded theory approach was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 8 healthcare professionals. Data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis.

Results: The core category "Reconfiguring Priorities: The Secondary Role of Breastfeeding in the Context of Breast Cancer in Young Women" emerged, encompassing 3 subcategories: (1) scars over time, (2) omitting breastfeeding in oncological care, and (3) self-management of breastfeeding.

Conclusions: Breastfeeding decision-making among young breast cancer survivors is not driven by conscious will but by a constant struggle with the conditioning factors of the oncological process: mortality and toxicity of drugs to breast milk. The lack of professional support leads women to develop their own strategies for managing breastfeeding, marked by ambivalence between motivations and personal challenges.

Implications for practice: Healthcare professionals should integrate breastfeeding discussions into oncological care for young breast cancer survivors. Specialized lactation consultants with oncology expertise should be incorporated into the care team. Peer support programs can provide valuable guidance based on lived experiences, empowering women to make informed decisions about breastfeeding after breast cancer.