{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/73501"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/73501","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Experiences of Men who Commit to Romantic Relationships with Women Under Fifty Post Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: A Qualitative Study","abstract":"This qualitative study examined the experiences of men who commit to romantic relationships with women under 50, post breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Twelve men from throughout the United States, who were dating these women for at least six months, participated in semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using Moustaka's Transcendental Phenomenological approach. Findings focused on initial disclosure timing, previous experience/knowledge about the cancer, initial reactions and concerns, acceptance of the cancer history, focusing on love/connection, respecting and admiring the survivor, and the ongoing impact of cancer on the relationship. The men seemed to experience dating a survivor with acceptance, understanding that though the cancer continues to be a part of their lives, it does not seem to be the focus of their lives or of the relationship. Clinical implications are discussed, highlighting the systemic effect that breast cancer may have on a couple even after treatment is complete. Limitations and future research are examined.","abstract_html":"This qualitative study examined the experiences of men who commit to romantic relationships with women under 50, post breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Twelve men from throughout the United States, who were dating these women for at least six months, participated in semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using Moustaka's Transcendental Phenomenological approach. Findings focused on initial disclosure timing, previous experience/knowledge about the cancer, initial reactions and concerns, acceptance of the cancer history, focusing on love/connection, respecting and admiring the survivor, and the ongoing impact of cancer on the relationship. The men seemed to experience dating a survivor with acceptance, understanding that though the cancer continues to be a part of their lives, it does not seem to be the focus of their lives or of the relationship. Clinical implications are discussed, highlighting the systemic effect that breast cancer may have on a couple even after treatment is complete. Limitations and future research are examined.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Freidus, Rachel Amanda"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Human Development","degree_department":"Human Development","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Huebner, Angela J."],"committee_members":["Strachman Miller, Marjorie L.","McCollum, Eric E."],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-06-02","date_published":"2015-06-02","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:31Z","subjects":["breast cancer","dating after breast cancer","men dating survivors","transcendental phenomenology"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:5586"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:5586","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10919/73501","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Huebner, Angela J."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Strachman Miller, Marjorie L.","McCollum, Eric E."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Human Development"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Freidus, Rachel Amanda"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2016-11-24T07:00:34Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2016-11-24T07:00:34Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2015-06-02"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Human Development"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["breast cancer","dating after breast cancer","men dating survivors","transcendental phenomenology"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:5586"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/73501"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This qualitative study examined the experiences of men who commit to romantic relationships with women under 50, post breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Twelve men from throughout the United States, who were dating these women for at least six months, participated in semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using Moustaka's Transcendental Phenomenological approach. Findings focused on initial disclosure timing, previous experience/knowledge about the cancer, initial reactions and concerns, acceptance of the cancer history, focusing on love/connection, respecting and admiring the survivor, and the ongoing impact of cancer on the relationship. The men seemed to experience dating a survivor with acceptance, understanding that though the cancer continues to be a part of their lives, it does not seem to be the focus of their lives or of the relationship. Clinical implications are discussed, highlighting the systemic effect that breast cancer may have on a couple even after treatment is complete. Limitations and future research are examined."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Experiences of Men who Commit to Romantic Relationships with Women Under Fifty Post Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: A Qualitative Study"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Huebner, Angela J."],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Strachman Miller, Marjorie L.","McCollum, Eric E."],"dc:contributor.department":["Human Development"],"dc:creator":["Freidus, Rachel Amanda"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2016-11-24T07:00:34Z"],"dc:date.available":["2016-11-24T07:00:34Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2015-06-02"],"dc:description.abstract":["This qualitative study examined the experiences of men who commit to romantic relationships with women under 50, post breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Twelve men from throughout the United States, who were dating these women for at least six months, participated in semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using Moustaka's Transcendental Phenomenological approach. Findings focused on initial disclosure timing, previous experience/knowledge about the cancer, initial reactions and concerns, acceptance of the cancer history, focusing on love/connection, respecting and admiring the survivor, and the ongoing impact of cancer on the relationship. The men seemed to experience dating a survivor with acceptance, understanding that though the cancer continues to be a part of their lives, it does not seem to be the focus of their lives or of the relationship. Clinical implications are discussed, highlighting the systemic effect that breast cancer may have on a couple even after treatment is complete. Limitations and future research are examined."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science"],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:5586"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/73501"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["breast cancer","dating after breast cancer","men dating survivors","transcendental phenomenology"],"dc:title":["Experiences of Men who Commit to Romantic Relationships with Women Under Fifty Post Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: A Qualitative Study"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Human Development"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:31Z"}