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Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in females worldwide; 23% of all cancer cases globally are that of breast cancer. Out of all the Asian countries Pakistan has the highest breast cancer mortality rate. The Age Standardized Mortality Rate (ASMR) for breast cancer in Pakistan according to GLOBOCAN 2012 Cancer Fact Sheet was 25.2/100,000 which is the highest among South Asian countries. Previous studies have shown that social support plays a significant role in the quality of life and other outcomes after breast cancer diagnosis. Social support has been associated with better physical health, lower levels of distress, decreased risk of recurrence, longer survival, emotional well being as well as decreasing hopelessness in lifelong diseases such as breast cancer. Nevertheless there is still lack of awareness and actions to promote social support in breast cancer patients in Pakistan. The aim of this study protocol, is to explore and understand the experiences of social support in female breast cancer patients in Pakistan. Specifically, this study will explore the sources of social support and their influence in dealing with the disease as well as the constraining factors in receiving social support.

Methods: This will be a cross sectional study. Semi structured in depth interviews will be conducted with women of 20-65 years of age, permanent residents of Pakistan, with minimum 6 months diagnosis of breast cancer, spending their post diagnosis and treatment period in Pakistan and registered on the files in Jinnah Hospital in Karachi.

Conclusion: This study is expected to yield relevant experiences of social support in female breast cancer patients providing a basis and baseline for interventions and evaluation of social support programs in Pakistan. This will also assist and highlight the need for developing cancer support groups, patient-family support groups, training healthcare professionals to practice social support as part of their duty and trained social workers in the public sector hospitals for breast cancer patients.