In their own words: A qualitative study of the psychosocial concerns of posttreatment and long-term lung cancer survivors

ABSTRACT

Although lung cancer is the deadliest type of cancer, survival rates are improving. To address the dearth of literature about the concerns of lung cancer survivors, the authors conducted 21 in-depth interviews with lung cancer survivors that focused on experiences during diagnosis, treatment, and long-term survivorship. Emergent themes included feeling blamed for having caused their cancer, being stigmatized as throwaways, and long-term survivors' experiencing surprise that they are still alive, given poor overall survival rates. Survivors also desired increased public support. It is imperative for healthcare and public health professionals to learn more about needs of this population.

KEYWORDS:

• lung cancer
• survivors
• stigma
• blame
• qualitative research
• psychosocial

Note

Notes

1. While we use the terminology survivor in this research, we have used patient when discussing research that uses that terminology.