1

Chapter I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. It is also the
second principal cause of death (after lung cancer) from cancer among women globally.
Breast cancer rates decreased by about 2% between 1998 and 2007. However, this
decrease was only among women aged 50 and older. Deaths from breast cancer have
decreased too since 1990, likely from earlier detection and advances in treatment
(Imaginis, 2011).
Despite the high incidence rates, in Western countries, 89% of women diagnosed
with breast cancer are still alive 5 years after their diagnosis, which is due to detection
and treatment. The United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America (USA) have
one of the highest incidence rates worldwide (together with the rest of North America
and Australia/New Zealand), making these countries a priority for breast cancer
awareness (Parkin et al., 2008).
According to Alegre and Ramo (2007), Filipino women are facing the highest risk
of breast cancer in Southeast Asia. The Philippines is ranked as first in breast cancer
incidence in Southeast Asia. Breast cancer cases continue to rise by as much as 5
percent annually. Breast cancer is now the leading cause of death among Filipino
women and is the second most prevalent type of the deadly disease next to lung cancer
for Filipino women.
In 2005, the Philippine Cancer Society revealed that 25 percent of the female
population in the country had been suffering from breast cancer. Every Filipino woman
faces a 10 percent risk of getting it. Some 6,360 breast cancer patients die each year in
the country, making it the leading cause of death among Filipino women (http://bulatlat.
com/news/7-6/7-6-cancer.htm).
The researchers group is made up predominantly of women making them likely
but unwilling candidates to contract the disease. Notwithstanding, men though rarely

may also developed the affliction. The fact that, as statistics bear, breast cancer is the
number one female killer disease among Filipino women gives the female researchers
some measure of chilling effect. This alone gives them sufficient ground to pursue a
study in this regard.
However, unlike other studies, this paper will not focus on the scientific
characteristics of the disease itself. Rather, it will highlight the social and emotional
effects of breast cancer and its treatments and the coping mechanisms adapted by the
patients based on their subjective point of view. Based on the results, the researchers
will devise a functional adaptation plan to manage these socio-emotional effects.

Statement of the Problem

The study seeks to determine the socio-emotional effects of breast cancer and its
treatments and the adaptation strategies adopted by the female patients.
The following specific concerns will be addressed:
1.

2.

What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1

Age,

1.2

Marital status,

1.3

Highest educational attainment,

1.4

Preoccupation,

1.5

Family economic status,

1.6

Major source of emotional support,

1.7

Number of years diagnosed of having breast cancer, and

1.8

Types of treatment received?

To what extent are the respondents affected by the effects of breast

cancer and its treatments on the following aspects:
2.1

Social, and

2.2

Emotional?

3.

Is there a significant difference between the respondents demographic

profile and the extent by which they are affected socially and emotionally
by breast cancer and its treatments?

4.

How do the respondents measure the degree of effectiveness of the

adaptation strategies employed by them to cope with the social and
emotional effects of breast cancer and its treatments?

5.

What Functional Adaptation Plan may be developed to reduce the

intensity of the social and emotional effects of breast cancer and its
treatments?

Hypothesis
The study will test the null hypothesis that there is no significant correlation
between the respondents demographic profile and the extent by which they are affected
socially and emotionally by breast cancer and its treatments.
Theoretical Framework
This study subscribes to the Health Belief Model (HBM) by Becker (1974). The
Health Belief Model (HBM) is a psychological model that attempts to explain and predict
health behaviors by focusing on the attitudes and beliefs of individuals.
The HBM has several key variables. The first variable is Perceived Threat which
consists of two parts: perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of a health
condition. The second variable is Perceived Susceptibility. It refers to one's subjective
perception of the risk of contracting a health condition. The third variable is Perceived
Severity. It involves feelings concerning the seriousness of contracting an illness or of
leaving it untreated (including evaluations of both medical and clinical consequences
and possible social consequences).
The fourth variable is Perceived Benefits. It concerns the believed effectiveness
of strategies designed to reduce the threat of illness. The fifth variable is Perceived
Barriers. They are potential negative consequences that may result from taking
particular health actions, including physical, psychological, and financial demands. The
sixth variable is Cues to Action. They are events, either bodily (e.g., physical symptoms

of a health condition) or environmental (e.g., media publicity) that motivate people to

take action. This variable is an aspect of the HBM that has not been systematically
studied. The seventh variable is Self-Efficacy which is the belief in being able to
successfully execute the behavior required to produce the desired outcomes.
There are other HBM variables. They include: Diverse demographic, sociopsychological, and structural variables that affect an individual's perceptions and thus
indirectly influence health-related behavior.
Research Paradigm
Figure 1 makes a visual representation of how the preparation of this study will
proceed by identifying the raw data required (input), how they will be gathered and used
(process) and the proposed outcome as a result of the study (output).
INPUT

PROCESS

1.
Demographic
Profile of

Respondents
2. Extent of
Effects of
Breast
Cancer
Treatments
in terms of:
A. Social
B.
Emotional

OUTPUT

1. Conduct of a
Survey to
Collect data
2. Analysis &
interpretation
of survey
results
3. Establishing
the
significant
relationship
of data
gathered

Proposed
Functional
Adaptation
Plan

3. Adaptation
Strategies

Figure 1

As the illustrative diagram indicates, the study has three sets of inputs. The first
set covers the respondents demographic profile, to wit: age, marital status, highest
educational attainment, preoccupation, family economic status, major source of

emotional support, number of years diagnosed of having breast cancer, and types of
treatment received. The second set includes the extent of effects of breast cancer and
its treatments classified as social and emotional. The third set involves the adaptation
strategies employed by the respondent-breast cancer patients to cope with the social
and emotional effects of breast cancer and its treatments.
Data will be gathered through a survey questionnaire. Statistical computations
will be made to establish the significant relationship of collected data. Results will then
be analyzed and interpreted in the context of the general objective of the study.
Various proposals will be put together to create a Functional Adaptation Plan
which will serve as output of the study.

Significance of the Study

This study is deemed beneficial to the following:
Breast cancer patients. Round-the-clock, they are the ones who have to put up
with the social and emotional effects of the disease and its treatments. This study
provides practical and adaptable techniques that they can use to replace or add to the
coping strategies they are already using while undergoing treatment and rehabilitation.
Nurses. Next to the physicians and immediate family members, the nurses enjoy
the closest and most intimate interaction with the breast cancer patients. Through this
study, they will be equipped with useful guidelines to practice their educative and
counseling functions that will relieve to an appreciable degree the distress and
difficulties being suffered by the patient especially on their social functioning and
emotional stability.
Researchers. This study serves as their contribution to the growing awareness
and appreciation about the countrys number one female killer disease. The discussions
and results contained herein may also be used by future researchers who may wish to
expand, update and upgrade the discussions pertaining to the circumstances prevailing
during their time.

Definition of Terms

The following terms and phrases are defined operationally in the context of their
use in the study to differentiate their meaning when used in other perspectives:
Adaptation plan. A set of strategies used to cope with the adverse socioemotional effects of breast cancer and its treatments among our chosen respondents.
Emotional effects. Effects that generate feelings or psychological reactions in
breast cancer patients.
Social effects. Effects that influence the functioning of breast cancer patients as
social beings involving their interaction with other people aside from the members of
their immediate family.
Scope and Delimitation
The study will focus on the social and emotional effects of breast cancer and its
treatments. The study will identify these effects and through the respondents will
measure the extent of how they are affected by them. Also included in the study are
adaptation strategies employed by the respondents. Again, the respondents will be
asked to express their perception as to the degree of effectiveness of these adaptation
strategies as they cope with the social and emotional effects. Based on the results, the
researchers will determine the presence or absence of significant correlation between
the respondents demographic profile and the the extent by which they are affected by
breast cancer and its treatments by using appropriate statistical measures.
Assisting the researchers in providing the data required are 25 breast cancer
clients from 2 hospitals or 12-13 respondents per hospital. The hospitals are: Cavite
Medical Center and Divine Grace Hospital. Aside from the usual financial and time
constraints, other limitations come in the form of adequate number of participants who,
on top of being breast cancer patients, are willing and able to contribute their precious
time and interest to the survey.