CLOTHING CHALLENGES FACED BY BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS: A CASE OF SELECTED HOSPITALS IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer found among women and is second to skin cancer. It is the leading type of cancer affecting women in Kenya. The most common surgical treatments for the disease are mastectomy and lumpectomy, which leads to changes in breast size, shape of the chest wall and overall torso symmetry. Breast Cancer Survivors desire clothes that are comfortable, fashionable and that can camouflage all outward evidence of breast cancer. The objectives of this study were to; determine the physical challenges faced by Breast cancer survivors, examine the challenges posed by the breast cancer treatment path with regard to clothing procurement of Breast Cancer Survivors, determine the challenges posed by fitting room settings, and to assess Breast cancer survivors’ awareness of their clothing needs. The target population was Breast Cancer Survivors discharged from four cancer management hospitals in Nairobi namely Kenyatta National, MP Shah, Nairobi and Aga Khan University Hospitals. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, and used purposive sampling to select the four hospitals. Individual respondents were captured from their respective hospitals and at the hospices. A sample of 273 respondents participated in this study. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse quantitative data using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Qualitative data was analysed through content analysis and discussion. This study found that the nature of the treatment path taken, fitting room setting and provision of clothing awareness were all significant challenges to Breast Cancer Survivors at p =0.000. Sixty one percent (61.3%) respondents experienced numbness of the arm, above 54% of the respondents would like to but cannot use the clothes they used before the surgery, majority 81% respondents became very sensitive to the fabric texture while 79.4% of the respondents became very concerned about their privacy. The survivors were never prepared for the clothing challenges to expect after surgery. From the results it is evident that Breast Cancer Survivors faced many clothing related challenges. The study recommended that Clothes designed for Breast Cancer Survivors should be fabricate such that they meet their physical and psychological needs, easily accessible, and that clothes stores should have fitting rooms with maximum privacy. In addition right information should be given before survivors are discharged.