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Part of
The Language of Crisis: Metaphors, frames and discourses
Edited by Mimi Huang and Lise-Lotte Holmgreen
[Discourse Approaches to Politics, Society and Culture 87] 2020
► pp. 255–280

Chapter 9
Narrative modulation in the storytelling of breast cancer survivors’ transitional experiences

This chapter aims to investigate breast cancer survivors’ diverse experiences and complex needs during the critical transitional periods between diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. The chapter proposes and develops an original concept of “narrative modulation” in storytelling, which is employed to analyse breast cancer survivors’ written narratives. The study finds that narrative modulators that function by image schemas, metaphors, frames, as well as psychosocial coping and adjustment strategies are instrumental in configuring and navigating breast cancer survivors’ journeys from health crisis to survivorship. The model of narrative modulation offers an original and useful analytical approach for researchers and healthcare practitioners to gain a nuanced and contextualised understanding of patients’ continual adaptations during cancer survivorship within their own socio-cultural and personal environments.
Keywords: narrative modulation, storytelling, transitional experience, metaphor, social cognition
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Using narrative analysis to understand cancer survivors’ transitional experiences
  • 3.Narrative modulation in the storytelling of breast cancer survivors’ transitional experiences
    • 3.1Narrative modulation in storytelling
    • 3.2A cognitive-linguistic and socio-cognitive understanding of narrative modulation
  • 4.Study design and data analysis
  • 5.Narrative modulation and meaning configuration in the narrative data
    • 5.1The storyline of crisis
    • 5.2The storyline of restitution
    • 5.3The storyline of inner growth
    • 5.4The storyline of continuous pain and suffer
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 16 July 2020
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/dapsac.87.09hua
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