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Acta Bioethica

SciELO Chile

Having breast cancer in the pandemic: A qualitative study on a case

Authors

  • Oya Ögenler Mersin University
  • Selda Okuyaz Mersin University
Vol. 32 No. 1 (2026): DESAFÍOS ÉTICOS EN LA SOCIEDAD DIGITAL
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Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common and life-threatening cancer among women. Individual, socioeconomic and cultural characteristics, the society in which she lives, affect the woman's quality of life and health status during the cancer process. The ethical problems women experience due to breast cancer in ordinary times have become more complex with additional problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to raise awareness about the importance of the biopsychosocial approach in the physician-patient relationship through the experiences of a case diagnosed with breast cancer. Our study evaluated and compared the experiences and opinions of a 52-year-old woman diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer in the first six months of the epidemic with the literature. It is clear that breast cancer is closely linked to sexual identity, and “being a cancer patient” can be described as a life-changing crisis. The pandemic period has characteristics against the cancer patient due to restrictions. She stated that the patient diagnosed with cancer had positive characteristics, such as a physician-patient relationship and social determinants in the hospital-related processes, but she experienced social exclusion due to the pandemic period. As a result, it is clear that the biopsychosocial holistic view of the health personnel is as effective as the patient's individual characteristics and social determinants, the relationship between the patient and the health personnel, and the shaping of the treatment process.

Keywords:

breast cancer, physician-patient relationship, COVID-19, ethical issues, quality of life
How to Cite
Ögenler, O. ., & Okuyaz, S. . (2026). Having breast cancer in the pandemic: A qualitative study on a case. Acta Bioethica, 32(1), 165–171. Retrieved from https://actabioethica.uchile.cl/index.php/AB/article/view/83405
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Acta Bioethica
Centro Interdisciplinario de Estudios en Bioética
Universidad de Chile
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