Qualitative research on cancer patients’ survivor-identity and lived experiences in low- and middle-income countries is scarce. Our study aimed at exploring the concept and experience of survivorship for Mexicans living with breast, cervical, and prostate cancer. We conducted a qualitative study in Mexico City, Morelos, Nuevo León, and Puebla. The participants were breast, cervical, and prostate cancer patients ≥18 years of age with completed primary cancer treatment. Data were collected via in-depth interviews and analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. The study included 22 participants with a history of breast, 20 cervical, and 18 prostate cancer. Participants accepted the term “cancer survivor” as a literal interpretation of being alive, medical confirmation of treatment completion, or achievement of a clinical result possibly indicative of cure. The majority of respondents perceived that the future is out of their control and under God’s will. They linked cure to divine intervention and did not demonstrate the sense of empowerment that is often associated with the survivorship term. The principal themes of their narratives encompass: 1) adverse physical and sexual experiences; 2) emotional problems; 3) cancer-related stigma; 4) challenges to obtaining health-related information; 5) financial hardship; and 6) experience of strengthening family ties in order to provide them with support. In addition, women with breast cancer reported distress caused by changes in body image and positive experience with support groups. In Mexico, cancer patients report complex survivorship experiences that demand post-treatment follow-up and support. There is the need to implement comprehensive, culturally-relevant survivorship programs focused on emotional, informational, and in-kind support and empowerment of cancer patients.

中文翻译：

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墨西哥乳腺癌，宫颈癌和前列腺癌生存的自我认同，生活经历和挑战：一项定性研究。

对中低收入国家癌症患者的幸存者身份和生活经历的定性研究很少。我们的研究旨在探索患有乳腺癌，宫颈癌和前列腺癌的墨西哥人的生存概念和经验。我们在墨西哥城，莫雷洛斯州，新莱昂州和普埃布拉州进行了定性研究。参与者为≥18岁且已完成原发癌治疗的乳腺癌，宫颈癌和前列腺癌患者。通过深入的访谈收集数据，并使用归纳主题方法进行分析。该研究包括22名有乳腺癌病史，20例宫颈癌和18例前列腺癌的参与者。参加者接受“癌症幸存者”一词的字面解释是活着，对治疗完成进行医学确认，或取得可能指示治愈的临床结果。大多数受访者认为，未来是不受他们的控制，处于上帝的旨意之下。他们将治愈与神圣的干预联系起来，没有表现出通常与生存期相关的授权感。其叙述的主题包括：1）不利的身体和性经历；2）情绪问题；3）与癌症相关的污名；4）获取健康相关信息的挑战；5）财务困难；6）加强家庭联系以提供支持的经验。此外，患有乳腺癌的妇女报告称其苦恼是由于身体形象的改变和与支持小组的积极经验所致。在墨西哥，癌症患者报告了复杂的生存经验，需要治疗后的随访和支持。有必要实施全面的，与文化相关的生存方案，重点是针对癌症患者的情感，信息和实物支持及赋权。