Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39405029›Full record

ArticleJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2026

Female breast cancer survivor narratives on paths to healing after the conclusion of primary treatment: A qualitative study.

Sophie Marie Marcom, Mark Sorensen

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Article in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Narrative reconstruction and embodiment in the Desert Journey program for young adult cancer survivors.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Sophie Marie MarcomDepartment of Anthropology at UNC-Chapel Hill, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 301 Alumni Hall, Campus Box #3115, 207 East Cameron Avenue, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3115, USA. sophmar@alumni.unc.edu.
Mark SorensenDepartment of Anthropology at UNC-Chapel Hill, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 301 Alumni Hall, Campus Box #3115, 207 East Cameron Avenue, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3115, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeFemale breast cancer survivors (BCS) experience different paths to healing after the conclusion of primary treatment. This study sought to describe the experiences of female BCS in the months and years after primary treatment by determining how and when healing happens, as well as what healing means to BCS.

methodsA qualitative approach was used through thematic analysis of data collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews from 17 female BCS.

resultsData analysis identified four major themes: (i) the process of finishing treatment and continuity of care, (ii) support systems for BCS, (iii) self-efficacy and personal accountability, and (iv) the social transition after cancer.

conclusionsFactors that affect the healing of BCS can be conceptualized as external or personal. Participants found that barriers to healing created by external factors were addressed by improved coordination of care and high-involvement transition programs as opposed to conversational support groups. Barriers created by personal factors were mitigated through organically formed support systems and promotion of self-efficacy and resilience. Participants expressed a desire for a shift in mainstream discourse to better reflect their experiences. Each BCS conceptualized survivorship differently, with some seeing a clear end to healing, and others who viewed it as a lifelong process. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Understanding the many paths to healing taken by BCS after concluding primary treatment, as well as common barriers to and catalysts for healing, can aid providers in addressing patient needs based on their individual experiences.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsCancer SurvivorsAdultAgedFemaleHumansMiddle AgedNarrationQualitative ResearchSelf EfficacySocial SupportBreast cancer survivorHealingNarrativesQuality of lifeSurvivorship

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.