Phenomenological Study: Breast Cancer Survivors' Experience to Improving Quality of Life

Background: Cancer is often considered a deadly disease. In almost all countries, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer suffered by the community. Nevertheless, it is not impossible for breast cancer patients to survive the disease, commonly known as "survivors". Ken Saras Hospital is a private hospital located in Central Java, Indonesia. Ken Saras Hospital also has excellent one-stop cancer services and a community of cancer survivors, namely Oncology Ken Saras Community. So, the researcher wants to explore deeply of a person's experience from being diagnosed with breast cancer until being as a breast cancer survivor. Method: The research design used is a qualitative study using a phenomenological approach. Data collection was done by in-depth interviews and observation. The informants of this research were 11 breast cancer survivors using purposive sampling technique with inclusion criteria. The data will be analyzed with thematic analysis. Results: Several themes in this research; a) coping mechanism that happened to breast cancer survivor; b) hope of breast cancer survivors such as be healed/cured, doesn't pass their diseases to their children, be useful to others; c) factors that affect the quality of life of breast cancer survivors such as motivation for life, the role of medic staff, spiritual approach, the role of other cancer patients, implementation of healthy lifestyle. Conclusion: There is a need for counseling, especially on the psychological problems of breast cancer patients, given the importance of handling patients' mental health.