Meaningful everyday life projects and activities in breast cancer survivors.

Abstract

The time-geographic diary, supplemented by interviews, is presented in this study as a useful method to demonstrate that desirable everyday life projects, with associated activities, may positively influence an individual’s quality of life. Breast cancer survivors can experience challenging everyday life activities due to late effects of treatment. Despite improvements in survivorship follow-up programs, we still lack knowledge about how the women themselves prioritise activities that are positive in everyday life. The aim of the present study was to identify everyday life projects that improve the quality of life in breast cancer survivors. The multi-method design included the time-geographic diary method and in-depth semi-structured interviews, carried out with a sample of fifteen breast cancer survivors. The interviews were performed with stimulus from the diary notes and consecutively analysed by directed content analysis. Meaningful everyday life activities were emphasised, and four projects were generated: 1) To do what is good for my body and soul; 2) To create something that is nice and for joy; 3) To keep my family and social network together; and 4) To keep my mind active. These findings can be directed to the development of more individual and peer-driven health care services.