The impact of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting on motherhood and family roles: A qualitative study among women with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To explore how women of reproductive age with breast cancer experience the impact of moderate-to-severe chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) on motherhood and family roles.

METHODS

A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Sixteen women of reproductive age with breast cancer who had experienced moderate-to-severe CINV during chemotherapy were recruited through purposive sampling with a maximum variation strategy. CINV severity was assessed with reference to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's six-phase approach.

RESULTS

Four themes were identified: (1) Triggered disruptions in mothering, describing how smell-triggered nausea and difficulties with physical closeness interrupted everyday mothering practices; (2) Visible challenges to maternal competence, reflecting mothers' experiences when nausea and vomiting became visible to children and children responded to their distress; (3) Symptom-driven redistribution of mothering work, describing the temporary transfer of childcare responsibilities to spouses, parents, and parents-in-law during symptom episodes; and (4) Gaps between CINV management and mothering needs, highlighting limited mothering-related guidance and professional support during home-based symptom peaks.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate-to-severe CINV may become intertwined with everyday mothering and family caregiving among women with breast cancer. The findings highlight the potential value of considering caregiving disruption and family-role needs alongside conventional symptom management and may inform the future development and evaluation of mother-sensitive, family-oriented supportive care.