We examined helpful and unhelpful messages that 35 Korean women with
breast cancer commonly received. Messages providing optimism were the most
frequently received type; the majority of the interviewees wanted to receive more
of that type. Interviewees considered minimization of disease extent or impact
helpful. Another finding unique to Korean culture is that family members
express their share of responsibility for, and guilt feelings about, the interviewees
being afflicted with breast cancer. Findings from this study will increase our
knowledge of culture-specific comforting messages for Korean cancer patients.