How do tangible supports impact the breast cancer experience?

A woman's ability to navigate her new role as abreast cancer patient can be impacted by the support she has available to her during this time. One form of social support, tangible support, refers to providing support in a physical way that assists an individual in meeting their role responsibilities. The Roy Adaptation Model was used as a framework for conceptualizing the various roles in a woman's life that can be impacted by breast cancer and how the type and extent of tangible support impacts these roles. Through a qualitative open-ended interview, 33 women with breast cancer described their experiences with their illness as it pertains to issues of role function and tangible supports.