The Experience of Young Mothers with Cancer Parenting Children

Background and Purpose:

Many psychosocial oncology studies have been conducted on women, and considerable attention has been given to childhood cancer, however, few studies have focused on the experience of young mothers with cancer.

This study examines the internal experiences of young mothers diagnosed with cancer, by exploring their thoughts, feelings, and experiences of parenting with a life-threatening illness.  

Methods:

Fifteen mothers diagnosed with cancer while parenting young children participated in two sixty-minute qualitative interviews. The interviews were conducted six weeks apart.  The participants primarily lived in the Midwest. The participants were selected utilizing snowball sampling. The age ranges of the participants were 20 to 45 years old, with the inclusion criteria of having at least one child under the age of 17 during cancer treatment. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and Grounded Theory was utilized to interpret results. Interviews illustrated the internal experience, emotional reactions, and distress experienced by mothers facing a life-threating illness.

Findings:

Data analysis reveals that being diagnosed with cancer is an experience that raises the possibility of death and has no real psychological exit. The emotional trauma shattered the illusion of endless time; and destabilized high-functioning mothers, threatened by illness intrusiveness. The data suggests that children are active participants in the ‘dark days’ of cancer, both internally and externally with the mother. The study highlights that discussing a diagnosis of cancer with children confirms their suspicion that something is wrong. A strong attunement was observed in social signaling between mothers and their children, despite the mothers’ efforts to protect children from her fears. The data further informed us that mothers, under the frightening circumstances of cancer treatment, should not be expected to demonstrate ‘perfect’ mothering, and should be educated that the experience of cancer will directly affect how children are parented. Observations were made of mothers engaging in cancer related behavioral activities, in effort to ward off the psychological possibility of death. A strong ‘culture of winning’ was observed in the data, and the participants collectively had minimal ability to tolerate relationships that referenced cancer in anything but a favorable perspective. Finally, the data suggests that cancer, for young mothers, is experienced as an assault on the mother’s gender through the loss of female reproductive organs.  

Conclusion and Implications:

The study findings elucidate the psychological threat that occurs when mothers are given a diagnosis of cancer. This study suggests that mothers have immediate considerations for not only their own well-being, but that of their children. Despite strong efforts by mothers to protect children from the experience of their cancer, the study identifies there is no real way to leave the children out of this experience. Dialectical conflicts exist for mothers during the experience as they balance the need to take care of themselves, while maintaining normalcy for the children. Social work practitioners working in psychosocial oncology should be aware of the intricate needs of this population to support direct practice, policy, and the ongoing need for research.