The sharks are circling: a qualitative study of living with metastatic breast cancer

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of the intersection of continued treatment and quality of life in women living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Methods: This was a qualitative study in which women with MBC were interviewed about their perceptions how MBC affected their physical, emotional, and role functioning. Results: Participants (n = 16) were mostly Caucasian (86.7%) and non-Hispanic (93.3%). The mean age was 55.62 years. Most women were on their third or greater line of treatment (68.5%). Themes identified from analysis of the transcripts revealed the following: (1) shock and devastation of the initial diagnosis; (2) feeling as if the sharks are circling; (3) cancer is a rollercoaster with never-ending treatments; (4) individual definitions of quality of life; and (5) you are not the person you once were. Conclusions: Symptoms, ongoing treatments, treatment changes, and disease progression negatively influence physical, emotional, and role function. Women with MBC define quality of life in different ways, and while symptoms and functional limitations are present, the cancer experience causes some to reevaluate their lives and focus on their individual priorities and values. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Although newly developed treatments increase survival among women with MBC, the symptoms, concerns, and issues surrounding QOL remain unresolved. The relatively high price of continuous treatment and disease exacerbation is indicative of the need for multi-pronged intervention strategies that address physical, mental, and emotional aspects of living with MBC.