It's a long and winding road : journeying with teachers and principals having diagnosed with breast cancer [manuscript] / Imelda Abalos Carlos.

The study aimed to explore the experiences of teachers and principals diagnosed with breast cancer. The population frame of the study consisted of 8 participants who were employed at the public schools of Bataan. The study utilized the qualitative type of research utilizing a phenomenological research design. The data were collected through interviews conducted by the researcher. Software tools for qualitative data and text analysis were used for easy sorting, structuring, analyzing of large amount of text and data and facilitate the management of the resulting interpretations and evaluations called MAXQDA. Thematic categories were named and classified as essential to the meaning of the phenomena being studied. The researcher finalized the name of each theme, wrote its description and illustrated it with few citations from the original text to help communicate its significance to the reader. Four (4) major themes and twelve (12) sub themes evolved from the data analysis based on the in-depth interviews with teachers and principals having diagnosed with breast cancer. Conclusions based on the findings of the study revealed that the passion of the teachers and principals for teaching remains after they were diagnosed with breast cancer. Consequently, support group for breast cancer survivors among principals and teachers has been proposed in this study. It was recommended that support group for breast cancer patients in the School Division of Bataan may encourage teachers and principals who have history of cancer. Similarly, school administrators should become conscious and cautious with respect to assigning of teaching loads and school related tasks being administered. Likewise, passion for teaching and administering should always be ignited through seminars and values formation so that teachers and principals will always be inspired to teach and administer. A round table discussion among members of the support group may also be considered to recreate their drive in teaching. Also, all out support, be it financial, emotional, physical, psychological should always be bestowed to teachers and principals with breast cancer. Maintenance medicines of breast cancer patients should be religiously taken to prevent the recurrence of cancer not only on breast but also in other parts of the body and may be offered as one of the advocacies of support group. Apparently, teachers and principals with an age of 30 years and above should practice self -breast examination for the early detection of breast cancer. The Department of Education may consider including the mammogram and breast ultrasound in their annual medical examination to teachers and principals aged 30 above. Also, all the participants can join together as a group of cancer survivors and form a team through a support group that will help and encourage other teachers and principals who are newly detected with breast cancer. It was suggested that a proposed study on assessing the level of stress or compassion satisfaction of teachers and principals prior to their work load be considered. Similarly, a study on passion for teaching, types of pain, financial fallback and healing aspirations may also be considered to be explored. Finally, the proposed support group may be further developed and strengthen considering its mandate and thrusts for target members in the Schools Division of Bataan.