ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2021
Exploring the experience of recurrence with advanced cancer for people who perceived themselves to be cancer free: a grounded theory study.
Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- Patient-reported emotional responses and coping mechanisms in cancer recurrence: a systematic review of qualitative evidence.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Pooled it
- Barriers to Adherence to Standard of Care in Appalachia: A Qualitative Assessment in Gastrointestinal Cancers.Patient preference and adherence · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeAdvances in cancer treatment have led to longer cancer-free periods and overall survival. This study aimed to understand patients' experiences of transitioning out of a state of believing to be cancer free into incurable recurrence with advanced disease.
methodsUsing constructivist grounded theory with in-depth interviews patients (n = 15) with solid tumors from a major US cancer center participated. Theoretical sampling enabled concepts to be developed until theme saturation. Constant comparative analysis used initial and focused coding to develop themes and concepts to describe this specific period from extended time cancer free and transition to advanced incurable disease.
resultsThree interrelated concepts were identified: reluctant acceptance, seeking survival through continuous treatment, and hope in the face of an uncertain future. A conceptual model of the experience was developed encompassing anger and sadness, at initial recurrence, to reluctant acceptance, and, finally, a cycle of seeking continuous treatment to prolong life leading to a sense of hope in the face of an uncertain future.
conclusionThe cycle between treatment and hope creates a state of personal equilibrium, which provides insights into the importance of treatment for this population. This study provides direction for future research to understand the expectations of people experiencing advanced cancer recurrence. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Many cancer survivors live with advanced cancer. Assessing their needs as they transition from survivor with no disease to survivor with advanced disease requires a new conceptualization of the experience which recognizes expectations and priorities for care of this patient group.
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