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'Getting back to normal' or 'a new type of normal'?: a qualitative study of patients' responses to the existential threat of cancer

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'Getting back to normal' or 'a new type of normal'? a qualitative study of patients' responses to the existential threat of cancer . / Baker, P.; Beesley, H.; Fletcher, Ian John et al.
In: European Journal of Cancer Care, Vol. 25, No. 1, 01.2016, p. 180-189.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Baker, P, Beesley, H, Fletcher, IJ, Ablett, J, Holcombe, C & Salmon, P 2016, ''Getting back to normal' or 'a new type of normal'? a qualitative study of patients' responses to the existential threat of cancer ', European Journal of Cancer Care, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 180-189. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.12274

APA

Baker, P., Beesley, H., Fletcher, I. J., Ablett, J., Holcombe, C., & Salmon, P. (2016). 'Getting back to normal' or 'a new type of normal'? a qualitative study of patients' responses to the existential threat of cancer . European Journal of Cancer Care, 25(1), 180-189. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.12274

Vancouver

Baker P, Beesley H, Fletcher IJ, Ablett J, Holcombe C, Salmon P. 'Getting back to normal' or 'a new type of normal'? a qualitative study of patients' responses to the existential threat of cancer . European Journal of Cancer Care. 2016 Jan;25(1):180-189. Epub 2014 Dec 19. doi: 10.1111/ecc.12274

Author

Baker, P. ; Beesley, H. ; Fletcher, Ian John et al. / 'Getting back to normal' or 'a new type of normal'? a qualitative study of patients' responses to the existential threat of cancer . In: European Journal of Cancer Care. 2016 ; Vol. 25, No. 1. pp. 180-189.

Bibtex

@article{844da5ae6dc845a9b9d8285318a79328,
title = "'Getting back to normal' or 'a new type of normal'?: a qualitative study of patients' responses to the existential threat of cancer ",
abstract = "Existential concerns about cancer have been studied extensively in palliative care but less so in curative settings. The present report aims to describe ways in which patients viewed the continuity or discontinuity of their identity in the face of the mortal threat of cancer. Twenty-eight patients with breast, prostate or lung cancer attending pre-treatment, treatment or follow-up appointments were interviewed about their emotional experiences following diagnosis. Qualitative analysis followed an inductive, constant comparative approach. Patients spoke of {\textquoteleft}getting back to normal{\textquoteright}, but presented two distinct accounts of {\textquoteleft}normality{\textquoteright}. Some, particularly those only recently diagnosed, maintained continuity to past identity by upholding previous routines, emphasising resilience and minimising the impact of cancer. Others talked of a new {\textquoteleft}normality{\textquoteright} discontinuous with their past. Most accounts, however, evidenced elements of continuity and discontinuity, often in ostensibly contradictory ways. We suggest that holding contradictory perspectives simultaneously characterises an intermediate stage of adjustment for some patients: between reliance on continuity with the past in the aftermath of diagnosis and, later, a sense of being a new person, changed by cancer. Practitioners should appreciate that patients' wishes for {\textquoteleft}normality{\textquoteright} can signify very different responses to cancer, and that holding such contradictory orientations is functional, not aberrant.",
keywords = "cancer, existence, emotional distress, identity, disavowal",
author = "P. Baker and H. Beesley and Fletcher, {Ian John} and J. Ablett and C. Holcombe and P. Salmon",
year = "2016",
month = jan,
doi = "10.1111/ecc.12274",
language = "English",
volume = "25",
pages = "180--189",
journal = "European Journal of Cancer Care",
issn = "0961-5423",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - 'Getting back to normal' or 'a new type of normal'?

T2 - a qualitative study of patients' responses to the existential threat of cancer

AU - Baker, P.

AU - Beesley, H.

AU - Fletcher, Ian John

AU - Ablett, J.

AU - Holcombe, C.

AU - Salmon, P.

PY - 2016/1

Y1 - 2016/1

N2 - Existential concerns about cancer have been studied extensively in palliative care but less so in curative settings. The present report aims to describe ways in which patients viewed the continuity or discontinuity of their identity in the face of the mortal threat of cancer. Twenty-eight patients with breast, prostate or lung cancer attending pre-treatment, treatment or follow-up appointments were interviewed about their emotional experiences following diagnosis. Qualitative analysis followed an inductive, constant comparative approach. Patients spoke of ‘getting back to normal’, but presented two distinct accounts of ‘normality’. Some, particularly those only recently diagnosed, maintained continuity to past identity by upholding previous routines, emphasising resilience and minimising the impact of cancer. Others talked of a new ‘normality’ discontinuous with their past. Most accounts, however, evidenced elements of continuity and discontinuity, often in ostensibly contradictory ways. We suggest that holding contradictory perspectives simultaneously characterises an intermediate stage of adjustment for some patients: between reliance on continuity with the past in the aftermath of diagnosis and, later, a sense of being a new person, changed by cancer. Practitioners should appreciate that patients' wishes for ‘normality’ can signify very different responses to cancer, and that holding such contradictory orientations is functional, not aberrant.

AB - Existential concerns about cancer have been studied extensively in palliative care but less so in curative settings. The present report aims to describe ways in which patients viewed the continuity or discontinuity of their identity in the face of the mortal threat of cancer. Twenty-eight patients with breast, prostate or lung cancer attending pre-treatment, treatment or follow-up appointments were interviewed about their emotional experiences following diagnosis. Qualitative analysis followed an inductive, constant comparative approach. Patients spoke of ‘getting back to normal’, but presented two distinct accounts of ‘normality’. Some, particularly those only recently diagnosed, maintained continuity to past identity by upholding previous routines, emphasising resilience and minimising the impact of cancer. Others talked of a new ‘normality’ discontinuous with their past. Most accounts, however, evidenced elements of continuity and discontinuity, often in ostensibly contradictory ways. We suggest that holding contradictory perspectives simultaneously characterises an intermediate stage of adjustment for some patients: between reliance on continuity with the past in the aftermath of diagnosis and, later, a sense of being a new person, changed by cancer. Practitioners should appreciate that patients' wishes for ‘normality’ can signify very different responses to cancer, and that holding such contradictory orientations is functional, not aberrant.

KW - cancer

KW - existence

KW - emotional distress

KW - identity

KW - disavowal

U2 - 10.1111/ecc.12274

DO - 10.1111/ecc.12274

M3 - Journal article

VL - 25

SP - 180

EP - 189

JO - European Journal of Cancer Care

JF - European Journal of Cancer Care

SN - 0961-5423

IS - 1

ER -