I’m still me, I’m still a person: war metaphor use and meaning making in women with metastatic breast cancer

Purpose The war metaphor is one strategy used frequently in breast cancer to inspire individuals in a “fight” against cancer and assist patients in navigating their illness experience. Despite prominent use, the emotional impact of this language has not been examined in the context of meaning making among women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Methods This study involved a semi-structured interview considering the war metaphor’s impact on women’s illness experience with MBC. Participants ( n = 22) had been diagnosed with MBC for at least 6 months or following 1 disease progression and were undergoing treatment at an NCI-designated cancer center in Western Pennsylvania at the time of interview. Each participant underwent an individual interview exploring the war metaphor’s impact on illness experience. Qualitative thematic analysis was performed to assess feelings about the war metaphor and emotional response to the lived experience of cancer. Results Two themes were identified surrounding metaphor use and participants’ experiences with meaning making in cancer. First, women with MBC perceive the diagnosis as an “unfair fight” due to its incurable nature. Second, patients use alternative language of “living life” and communicate resistance to being defined by their cancer diagnosis. Conclusion War metaphors are one collection of terminology people use to understand their diagnosis. However, their use may apply pressure to prioritize positivity in the face of diagnosis and treatment, in a unique clinical context where this may not be adaptive. These findings affirm a need to consider patients’ lived experiences to best facilitate psychological adjustment to illness.