Illness perception of breast cancer among patients receiving treatment in a university teaching hospital, South-west Nigeria: a qualitative phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with perceptions of the illness influencing coping, treatment adherence, and quality of life. Drawing on Leventhal's Illness Perception Model, this study explored how women diagnosed with breast cancer construct meaning from their experiences, while situating these findings within existing qualitative evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa and addressing a relative gap in phenomenological and theory-informed studies in Nigeria.

METHODS

A qualitative phenomenological design was employed, involving in-depth interviews with 20 breast cancer patients aged 33-76 years at Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Data were collected between August and October 2025. Participants included married, widowed, divorced, and single women, with diagnoses ranging from stage I to IV. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and lived experiences.

RESULTS

Four main themes emerged: (1) Illness as a spiritual test or act of God, fostering resilience through faith; (2) Attribution to stress, lifestyle, and modern living, linked to socio-economic pressures; (3) Perception as hereditary or biologically predetermined, heightening familial concerns; and (4) Initial fatalism as a death sentence, evolving into a manageable condition with medical and emotional support. Perceptions shifted from fear to empowerment, shaped by treatment, faith, and social networks.

CONCLUSION

Illness perceptions among Nigerian breast cancer patients are multifaceted, blending spiritual, lifestyle, and biomedical elements, and evolve with lived experiences. These findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive, patient-centered interventions to enhance coping and promote early detection.