Narrating Experiences of Breast Cancer: Reflections of Women Attending a Private Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa

Alessandra K. Heggenstaller; Katinka de Wet; Jan K. Coetzee; Florian Elliker

doi:10.18778/1733-8077.13.1.08

Authors

Alessandra K. Heggenstaller University of the Free State, South Africa
Katinka de Wet University of the Free State, South Africa
Jan K. Coetzee University of the Free State, South Africa
Florian Elliker University of the Free State, South Africa; University of St. Gallen, Switzerland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-8077.13.1.08

Keywords:

Breast Cancer, South Africa, Private Hospitals, Identity, Femininity

Abstract

It is commonly thought that breast cancer, like many other cancers, is an illness equivalent to a death sentence. Though this may be true in some cases, the majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer do survive this illness. Breast cancer is a growing illness and is continuing to affect women worldwide, including developing countries like South Africa. Furthermore, this country’s medical system operates in terms of a duality. Here, hospitals and healthcare are mainly situated in either state operated institutions or in privately run practices. This duality emphasizes the inequality within the socio-economic classes, treatment regimens, and ethic-of-care. This article deals with how women from the higher socio-economic stratum of the deeply polarized South Africa deal with breast cancer. The aim is to understand how each participant renegotiates and transforms her self-perception, her identity, and issues around femininity. In addition, the authors also seek to understand if this medical encounter influences the participants’ sense of embodiment, as well as how the medical encounter impacts on their everyday lifeworld.

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Author Biographies

Alessandra K. Heggenstaller, University of the Free State, South Africa

Alessandra K. Heggenstaller is a doctoral candidate and research assistant in the program The Narrative Study of Lives, Department of Sociology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. She completed her Master’s degree in this same program.
Katinka de Wet, University of the Free State, South Africa

Katinka de Wet is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Jan K. Coetzee, University of the Free State, South Africa

Jan K. Coetzee is a Senior Professor of Sociology and Director of the program The Narrative Study of Lives in the Department of Sociology at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. He specializes in qualitative sociology and serves on several international advisory boards.
Florian Elliker, University of the Free State, South Africa; University of St. Gallen, Switzerland

Florian Elliker is a Research Fellow in the program The Narrative Study of Lives, Department of Sociology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. He is also a Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Sociology, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.

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