Patients' experiences and perspectives of multiple concurrent symptoms in advanced cancer: a semi-structured interview study

Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
Skye T DongMelanie R Lovell

Abstract

Patients with advanced cancer typically experience multiple concurrent symptoms, which have a detrimental impact on patient outcomes. No studies to date have qualitatively explored advanced cancer patients' perceptions of multiple symptoms in oncology and palliative care settings. Understanding the experience of multiple symptoms can inform integrated clinical pathways for treating, assessing and reducing symptom burden. This study aims to describe the beliefs, attitudes and experiences of patients with multiple symptoms in advanced cancer. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 58 advanced cancer patients (23 inpatients and 35 outpatients), recruited purposively from two palliative care centres and two hospital-based oncology departments in Sydney, Australia. Transcripts were analysed thematically. Six major themes were identified: imminence of death and deterioration (impending death, anticipatory fear); overwhelming loss of control (symptom volatility, debilitating exhaustion, demoralisation, isolation); impinging on autonomy and identity (losing independence, refusal to a diminished self, self-advocacy, reluctance to burden others); psychological adaptation (accepting the impossibility of recovery, seeking distracti...Continue Reading

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Jul 24, 2018·Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care·Dena Schulman-GreenRuth McCorkle
Aug 20, 2018·BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care·Suman BudhwaniDoris Howell
Jan 21, 2020·Palliative & Supportive Care·H KhalilE Ristevski
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Mar 21, 2021·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Mariëtte N VerkissenLuc Deliens
Nov 28, 2019·Progrès en urologie : journal de l'Association française d'urologie et de la Société française d'urologie·Y NeuzilletP Mongiat-Artus

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