A Qualitative Study to Explore the Experiences of Adolescents Living with Cancer

This study aimed to explore the perceptions of adolescents suffering with cancer about their life situation in the present as well as in future.

Adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 39 are much more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than children under the age of 15. The most common types of cancer seen in adolescents and young adults are lymphoma, leukemia, germ cell tumors (including testicular cancer), melanoma, sarcomas, and colorectal cancers.¹ Adolescence is a phase of transition rather a very fragile & delicate period of life & gett ing affected with a life threatening illness like cancer at this stage is defi nitely debilitating. Invariably, the diagnosis of cancer may come as a great shock to the person concerned; it can shatter the hopes of not only the person concerned rather that of the entire family. There is still little known on how adolescents feel about their lives in such a complex situation and what they think about the future shape of their lives. This study is designed to fi ll that gap and to study the lived experiences of adolescents suffering from cancer.

Qualitative research approach was used. Seven adolescents suffering from cancer & any one of their parents were interviewed and data was analysed using qualitative descriptive approach.

The perception of cancer was different to different people. Some of the adolescents viewed it as a life-threatening event usually with no cure. While other adolescents were brave hearts & said that it's just another battle to fight. However all the parents have experienced shock & fear on account of this dreadful event. All the participants stated that suffering with cancer was defi nitely an unwelcomed & bitter experience on account of the unmanageable sign & symptoms; the debilitating effects of tests & treatments; restrictions enforced; varied experiences at various health care facilities; added financial burden & the hampered school life. All the participants stated that parents were the strongest support for them throughout. Another important finding was that even till today in spite of the tremendous efforts on awareness programmes there is a strong stigma attached to cancer. All the participants perceived future as uncertain & bleak.

Understanding the problems associated with the adolescents suffering from cancer will help in improving upon the quality of care to be provided to such adolescents.