Breast Cancer, Mana'olana/Hope, and the Experience of Native Hawaiian Women

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Karla M. Calumet, PhD,MHA  

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among women. A diagnosis of cancer is a stressful event that requires an individual to adapt to new stressors. The purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand the perceptions of Mana’olana/hope and living with breast cancer among Native Hawaiian women. The conceptual framework of this phenomenological study was positive psychology. Data collection included in-depth interviews with 5 Native Hawaiian women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Data coding and analysis resulted in the identification of 8 themes. Results may be used by health psychologists, cancer treatment practitioners, and the field of biobehavioral oncology to support and improve the well-being and health outcomes of women diagnosed with breast cancer.