Making meaning of everyday life in the context of lung cancer treatment-a qualitative study of outpatients' perspectives.

BACKGROUND: The increasing survival after a lung cancer diagnosis implies that patients live longer with the disease, which means that symptoms and side effects of the treatment become part of everyday life. AIM: The study explored how older adults make meaning of everyday life when undergoing treatment for their lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with 12 older adults with lung cancer undergoing various treatments. The analysis followed Giorgi's phenomenologic five-step method. RESULTS: The analysis revealed three partly overlapping themes: meeting the health care system, losing identity, and struggling for meaning in everyday life. The patients appreciate clear and coherent communication at the oncology clinic. They had different needs for support from organised support groups, friends, communities, or relatives to make meaning of everyday life. CONCLUSION: Creating meaning in everyday life is essential despite the disease and the treatments' side effects. Interpersonal relationships create meaningfulness in everyday life through a salutogenic perspective that makes everyday life comprehensible and manageable. SIGNIFICANCE: The patients need an everyday life perspective on the disease and the side effects, which a salutogenic approach in the encounter with the health care system could support.

'When I can ride my bike, I think, am I at all as sick as they say?' An exploration of how men with advanced lung cancer form illness perceptions in everyday life.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore how men with advanced lung cancer form perceptions of their illness in everyday life and how this influences perceptions about rehabilitation. METHODS: Constructivist grounded theory principles guided the collection and analysis of data from in-depth interviews with 10 men with advanced lung cancer. RESULTS: The findings show that the men's illness perception was fluid, contextual and formed by interrelated factors. Engaging in daily activities and maintaining everyday life was a strong influence on their illness perception. CONCLUSION: In order to make rehabilitation relevant to men with lung cancer, consideration should be given to how the men's everyday lives may be incorporated into the service provision.

Occupation as marker of self: Occupation in relation to self among people with advanced cancer.

BACKGROUND: Living with advanced cancer can have a profound impact on the person's self. A person's self is influenced by various aspects of daily life, including engagement in occupation. From an occupational perspective, little research has been done to explore how the self of people with advanced cancer is formed through their engagement in occupation. AIM: The purpose of this study was to explore how people with advanced cancer experience that their sense of self is formed through engagement in occupation. METHODS: A total of 28 interviews were conducted with 22 people with advanced cancer. Grounded theory guided the collection and analysis of data. RESULTS: 'Occupation as marker of self' was identified as the core category. Occupations served as markers of the participants' self (1) by mirroring their abilities and positioning of their self in the illness trajectory; and (2) as means of expressing their self. The core category provided explanations about how the participants' experiences of occupation influenced their self-perceptions, as explained in the sub-categories 'defining the self through occupation' and 'reassessing self and accepting limitations'. CONCLUSIONS: For people with advanced cancer, engagement in occupation influences their self as current abilities become apparent and positions of their self can be created and expressed.

Identity and home: Understanding the experience of people with advanced cancer.

The purpose of this study was to explore how the identity of people with advanced cancer is influenced by their experiences of living at home. A total of 28 in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 people with advanced cancer and four spouses. Grounded theory guided the collection and analysis of data. Home tours and associated field notes augmented the interview data. The analysis revealed that support of participants' identity was reflected in their abilities to live and occupy the home during daily activities, and in the ways the home and objects functioned as referents to themselves and their past. Threats to their identity ensued as the home environment became unmanageable during daily activities and as homecare professionals and assistive devices entered the home. By supporting people with advanced cancer in maintaining daily activities in the home and reducing changes in the home caused by homecare it is possible to reduce loss of identity.