Bachelorprojekt i ergoterapi” Kvinder med cancer mammae's ...

Summary
Purpose: Based on contact to physiotherapists on a large specialized emergency hospital, the
purpose of this project is to investigate the changes in everyday life, experienced by women with
Cancer Mammae (CM) and lymphodema when discharged from hospital. Our intention is to bridge
the gap in knowledge concerning this specific group of diagnosis and further to make a valid
judgement whereas this group would benefit from rehabilitation concerning occupational therapy.
Formulation of the problem: What changes in everyday life, are women discharged from hospital,
experiencing?
Methodology: As stating point we have chosen a qualitative phenomenological investigation. The
investigation is based in interviews with three women, where their subjective experiences are
expressed throughout the project. The investigation is not based on a predesigned method of
analysis, but is characterized as a method based on reflective choices in relation to phenomenology.
Conclusion: Based on analysis of the three informants it is concluded that the women experiences
changes in everyday life after being discharged from hospital. The changes experienced are:
Changed relation towards own body and thereby changed experiences in performing activities; the
women wished to resume past activities and therefore, in the stories told, compared their perception
of past everyday life with the changed everyday life. Despite the comparison, the women tried, in
different ways, to manage their everyday life despite the changes. The most significant changes
were the women’s experiences of frustration, grief and irritation, due to the sense of not maintaining
independence in resuming everyday life. We believe this group of patients could benefit from an
Occupational therapy intervention, among others, facilities aids, and performing ADL evaluation.
This would contribute to the existing rehabilitation at the current hospital and constitute a quality
improvement.
Keywords/nøgleord: Ergoterapi/occupational therapy, cancer, brystkræft/cancer mammae, breast,
daily living, everyday life, daglige aktiviteter, livskvalitet/quality of life, kvinde/female, lymfødem,
rehabilitering/rehabilitation.