{"title":"Processing the trauma of gynaecological cancer through reading and writing: Women's experiences from digital storytelling after treatment.","authors":"Ragnhild Johanne Tveit Sekse, Sigrund Breistig, Oddgeir Synnes","doi":"10.1080/07399332.2025.2499489","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this article we explore the potential significance of illness stories in cancer rehabilitation by describing gynaecological cancer survivors' experiences from both reading other women's illness stories as well as writing their own. Individual texts were written by fifty-nine women who had recently finished primary cancer treatment while participating in an e-intervention. These texts were analyzed, inspired by Braun and Clark's method of analysis. Our analysis led to two main themes; \"Recognition - understanding oneself through others\" and \"Processing and adapting to a changed everyday life.\" We found that reading and writing about cancer can pave the way for the individual woman's recognition, normalization, belonging, and path to acceptance. However, this work can be painful as it can trigger memories of going through the cancer experience. Health personnel must be aware of both potentials and pitfalls and be sure to give the support needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":47836,"journal":{"name":"Health Care for Women International","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Health Care for Women International","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2025.2499489","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
In this article we explore the potential significance of illness stories in cancer rehabilitation by describing gynaecological cancer survivors' experiences from both reading other women's illness stories as well as writing their own. Individual texts were written by fifty-nine women who had recently finished primary cancer treatment while participating in an e-intervention. These texts were analyzed, inspired by Braun and Clark's method of analysis. Our analysis led to two main themes; "Recognition - understanding oneself through others" and "Processing and adapting to a changed everyday life." We found that reading and writing about cancer can pave the way for the individual woman's recognition, normalization, belonging, and path to acceptance. However, this work can be painful as it can trigger memories of going through the cancer experience. Health personnel must be aware of both potentials and pitfalls and be sure to give the support needed.
期刊介绍:
Health Care for Women International is a critically acclaimed, international publication that provides a unique interdisciplinary approach to health care and related topics that concern women around the globe. Published twelve times a year, Health Care for Women International includes the newest research, theories, and issues in the fields of public health, social science, health care practice, and health care policy. Scholars and practitioners address topics such as cultural differences, alternative lifestyles, domestic violence, public health issues associated with the aging of the population, maternal morbidity and mortality, infectious diseases, and a host of other gender-based ethical issues. The editor also encourages discussion topics, inviting readers to comment on articles that focus on specific aspects of health issue for women.