Coping with Cancer through Social Networks and Digital Communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Experience of Migrant Women in Padua, Italy

This article explores how migrant women living in Padua, Italy, navigated the complex intersection of oncological illness and the COVID-19 pandemic. Grounded in medical anthropology and socioogy, the study examines how structural inequalities, legal status, and job precarity—particularly within the domestic and care work sectors—influenced women’s access to cancer screening, timely treatment, and social support. Based on qualitative research conducted in 2020, including twenty in-depth interviews with migrant women, predominantly from Eastern Europe, and five interviews with local healthcare professionals, the paper reveals a distinct stratification within the healthcare system. Although regional oncology care in the Veneto Region offers high technical standards, a patient’s ability to benefit from it depends heavily on her socio-economic and relational resources. To overcome systemic barriers and institutional gaps, migrant women relied on interpersonal social networks as well as digital communities. Strong ties with family or co-nationals and weak ties with local "bridge-builders" proved crucial for navigating complex administrative procedures, securing appointments during lockdowns, and alleviating isolation. Conversely, the absence of such networks often resulted in severe economic hardship, social exclusion, and disrupted care. In response to physical distancing and cancelled routine consultations, women actively turned to digital spaces, such as dedicated Facebook breast cancer groups. These platforms provided practical health information, peer guidance on post-operative recovery, and a shared sense of community that helped dismantle cultural stigma and foster personal agency. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that when public health crises exacerbate socio-economic vulnerabilities, informal social networks and virtual communities become vital coping resources for migrant women to reclaim control over their health, well-being, and care trajectories.