The Appalachian region is known for its beautiful mountains, close-knit communities, and health care disparities including higher rates of cancer and premature mortality. Being diagnosed with cancer in the region may present a unique experience for survivors in regards to family cancer communication and changing personal identities. In a multiphasic study, the stories of 29 female Appalachian cancer survivors were collected through either a day-long modified story circle event (n=26) or an in-depth interview (n=3). Qualitative content analysis was used to identify emergent themes in the data. The analysis revealed 5 types of family cancer communication and five barriers to family cancer communication. The analysis additionally revealed the identity struggle women experience between maintaining traditional Appalachian gender roles and surviving cancer. These findings suggest that female Appalachian cancer survivors appear to have additional challenges that may make the cancer experience in Appalachia unique.
","abstract_html":"<p>The Appalachian region is known for its beautiful mountains, close-knit communities, and health care disparities including higher rates of cancer and premature mortality. Being diagnosed with cancer in the region may present a unique experience for survivors in regards to family cancer communication and changing personal identities. In a multiphasic study, the stories of 29 female Appalachian cancer survivors were collected through either a day-long modified story circle event (n=26) or an in-depth interview (n=3). Qualitative content analysis was used to identify emergent themes in the data. The analysis revealed 5 types of family cancer communication and five barriers to family cancer communication. The analysis additionally revealed the identity struggle women experience between maintaining traditional Appalachian gender roles and surviving cancer. These findings suggest that female Appalachian cancer survivors appear to have additional challenges that may make the cancer experience in Appalachia unique.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Duvall, Kathryn L"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"MA (Master of Arts)","degree_level":"Thesis - unrestricted","degree_discipline":"Communication, Professional","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2010,"date_issued":"2010-05-08T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2010-05-08T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:20:42Z","subjects":["Identity Changes","Appalachian Women","Cancer","Psychosocial Oncology","Family Communication","Medicine and Health","Social and Behavioral Sciences","Sociology"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright by the authors."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1677","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Duvall, Kathryn L"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2010-05-08T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Communication, Professional"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - unrestricted"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["MA (Master of Arts)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Identity Changes","Appalachian Women","Cancer","Psychosocial Oncology","Family Communication","Medicine and Health","Social and Behavioral Sciences","Sociology"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright by the authors."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://dc.etsu.edu/context/etd/article/3032/viewcontent/DuvallK042110f.pdf","https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1677"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The Appalachian region is known for its beautiful mountains, close-knit communities, and health care disparities including higher rates of cancer and premature mortality. Being diagnosed with cancer in the region may present a unique experience for survivors in regards to family cancer communication and changing personal identities. In a multiphasic study, the stories of 29 female Appalachian cancer survivors were collected through either a day-long modified story circle event (n=26) or an in-depth interview (n=3). Qualitative content analysis was used to identify emergent themes in the data. The analysis revealed 5 types of family cancer communication and five barriers to family cancer communication. The analysis additionally revealed the identity struggle women experience between maintaining traditional Appalachian gender roles and surviving cancer. These findings suggest that female Appalachian cancer survivors appear to have additional challenges that may make the cancer experience in Appalachia unique.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Surviving Cancer in Appalachia: A Qualitative Study of Family Cancer Communication and Changing Personal Identities Through the Cancer Journey."]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Duvall, Kathryn L"],"dc:date.issued":["2010-05-08T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The Appalachian region is known for its beautiful mountains, close-knit communities, and health care disparities including higher rates of cancer and premature mortality. Being diagnosed with cancer in the region may present a unique experience for survivors in regards to family cancer communication and changing personal identities. In a multiphasic study, the stories of 29 female Appalachian cancer survivors were collected through either a day-long modified story circle event (n=26) or an in-depth interview (n=3). Qualitative content analysis was used to identify emergent themes in the data. The analysis revealed 5 types of family cancer communication and five barriers to family cancer communication. The analysis additionally revealed the identity struggle women experience between maintaining traditional Appalachian gender roles and surviving cancer. These findings suggest that female Appalachian cancer survivors appear to have additional challenges that may make the cancer experience in Appalachia unique.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://dc.etsu.edu/context/etd/article/3032/viewcontent/DuvallK042110f.pdf","https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1677"],"dc:rights":["Copyright by the authors."],"dc:subject":["Identity Changes","Appalachian Women","Cancer","Psychosocial Oncology","Family Communication","Medicine and Health","Social and Behavioral Sciences","Sociology"],"dc:title":["Surviving Cancer in Appalachia: A Qualitative Study of Family Cancer Communication and Changing Personal Identities Through the Cancer Journey."],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Communication, Professional"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis - unrestricted"],"thesis:degree_name":["MA (Master of Arts)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:20:42Z"}