Social support needs of breast cancer patients without partners

This qualitative study investigated how women without partners navigate social support challenges following their breast cancer diagnoses. In-depth interviews were used for collection. Twenty women without partners discussed the supportive and unsupportive roles their relatives, peers, and colleagues played during diagnoses and treatment. Family systems theory guided the construction of interview questions. Thematic analysis uncovered the following themes: reactions to diagnosis, managing social networks, negotiating appropriate forms of social support with loved ones, and expanding social networks postdiagnosis. Participants discussed the personal challenge of unexpectedly unsupportive friends and family and how they established boundaries with these individuals. Participants also discussed needing age-relevant and cancer stage-specific breast cancer support groups. These findings are relevant to oncology care providers and therapists. Additional implications of these findings for patients, practice, and research are discussed.