The quality of life of long-term remission patients in the Vivrovaire study: The impact of ovarian cancer on patient trajectory

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, we explored how ovarian cancer (OC) survivors give meaning to their cancer experience and how the latter has an impact on their quality of life (QOL).

Participants: The sample comprised 16 OC patients participating in the French study Vivrovaire in Lyon who were in long-term remission.

Methods: We employed a qualitative approach, based on semi-structured interviews. Using ATLAS.ti software, we performed a thematic analysis of the collected data.

Findings: Three main OC-related themes emerged: body and physical issues; social life evolutions; participant retrospective perception of OC experience.

Interpretation: Our results underline the need to take into account the various dimensions of patient identity when studying OC survivors’ QOL and to consider intra-individual QOL evolutions from a temporal perspective.

Implications for Psychosocial Providers: Helping patients acquire a sound understanding of their illness experience is an enormous challenge for OC healthcare.

Keywords:

• Long-term remission
• ovarian cancer
• patient trajectory
• qualitative methods
• quality of life

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

This work was supported by the French “Ligue contre le Cancer” and by “Fondation de France”.