Self-Acceptance of Breast Cancer Patients in the Minahasa Cultural Context of North Sulawesi: A Literature Review

Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women compared to other types of cancer. Both the disease and its treatment have not only physical impacts but also significant psychological effects. Common psychological impacts experienced by breast cancer patients include anxiety, depression, fear of death, body image disturbances, and low self-acceptance. The aspect of self-acceptance plays a crucial role in the psychological adaptation process of breast cancer patients. In Minahasa society, culture and spirituality hold a central role in shaping how individuals perceive illness and the healing process. Beliefs in ancestral spirits, traditional healing practices, and life philosophies such as mapalus influence how patients respond to a cancer diagnosis and make decisions regarding medical treatment. This paper aims to conceptually explore how cultural beliefs in the Minahasa community influence self-acceptance among breast cancer patients and to discuss the application of the transcultural nursing approach using Leininger’s Sunrise Enabler Model. This conceptual paper is based on a literature review of relevant scientific articles, ethnographic sources, and cultural texts. The analysis is conducted using a conceptual framework based on the Sunrise Enabler model and Madeleine Leininger’s Culture Care theory. The literature study reveals that Minahasa culture significantly influences how patients accept their illness. Spirituality, traditional beliefs, and social support rooted in the mapalus value system can enhance self-acceptance. However, certain cultural beliefs also pose challenges, such as the myth that surgery can worsen cancer. In this context, nurses play a crucial role in culturally sensitive and collaborative repatterning through education. In conclusion, nursing approaches that acknowledge and respect local culture can effectively support patients’ self-acceptance. The nurse’s role in care delivery includes an approach that addresses patients’ spiritual, social, and cultural traditions. This holistic approach is vital for promoting treatment adherence and improving the quality of life of breast cancer patients, especially within culturally rich communities like the Minahasa society.