Stacked Stigma: Oncology Social Workers’ Perceptions of the Lung Cancer Experience

Abstract

This study explores stigma in the lung cancer experience by interviewing 18 oncology social workers employed at cancer centers across the United States who provide care to people diagnosed with lung cancer and their family members. A content analysis of the interviews suggests stacked stigma exists with respect to cigarette smoking. Poor prognosis and disparity in advocacy efforts emerged as stigmatizing events that are linked with smoking stigma, particularly in the arenas of support groups, patient-matching programs, availability of resources, and the lung cancer population itself. Emotional phenomenon resulting from this stigma experience may increase the illness burden for people with lung cancer and explain the variance in distress levels among people with different cancer diagnoses.

KEYWORDS:

• lung cancer
• stigma
• content analysis
• social work
• smoking
• poor prognosis
• advocacy

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Erratum