Relating information needs to the cancer experience. 2. Themes from six cancer narratives

Many different issues may arise for individuals with cancer, where the provision of information can be an effective coping strategy. It is also clear that information needs change over time and vary from person to person. This paper considers six cancer narratives from a study seeking to identify the information needs of people with cancer that emerged out of their cancer experience. Six respondents were invited to tell their story through in-depth interviews and narrative analysis uncovered thematic aspects of the lived experience. Themes emerged which showed that cancer impacts on different aspects of an individual's self-identity, including body image, family, social and work relationships. Cancer was viewed as an intrusion and the illness engendered feelings of vulnerability that impacted on their normal coping mechanisms. This resulted in a decreased ability to process information. While individuals expressed medical information needs, they were less likely to articulate their need for information when it related to other areas of their lives. Individuals reached a turning point during their experience, when the self-acknowledgement that they were living with cancer, enabled them to become more active respondents in the information process. As this stage cannot readily be identified as occurring at a specific point of the cancer trajectory, communication channels need to be kept open regarding information-giving. This raises questions about areas for further study.