Changes in intimate relationships following treatment for head and neck cancer—A qualitative study

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine how patients with head and neck cancer experience changes within their intimate relationships at the end of treatment and detect detrimental and facilitating factors in the process of resuming intimate relationships. Interviews were conducted with 131 patients. A core category – “being open versus not sharing the cancer journey” – emerged from the patients' narratives and was based on the experiences of engagement/disengagement, openness/fear, and patronizing attitudes/sharing the burden. The findings point to the necessity of patients being open about the disease trajectory and might be understood in the light of theories about potential changes in identity and self-concept.

KEYWORDS:

• Head and neck cancer
• intimate relationships
• patients experience
• social support
• qualitative study

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all participants for their contributions and time.

Funding

This study was sponsored by the Swedish Cancer Society; the Kamprad Family Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Research and Charity; Lions Cancer Research Foundation at Umeå University; the Swedish Laryng Foundation; and the Cancer Research Foundation of Northern Sweden.

Conflict of interest

No conflict of interest has been declared by the authors.