Psychosocial impact of recurrent cancer

The experience of cancer recurrence is multifaceted and is influenced by social support, family support and medical and nursing intervention. The diagnosis of recurrence is often more traumatic than the initial diagnosis and the future for the patient becomes less certain. A chronic illness model provides a useful framework for understanding the experience of recurrent cancer. People who are diagnosed with recurrent cancer recognize that it is a time of re-evaluation, transformation and redefinition. Relationships take on an important significance and informational and support needs are paramount. Much of the literature suggests that the role transformation, or the adaptation of the individual to their circumstances, is a central theme of the experience of cancer recurrence. The development of a specific model to assess the role transformation that patients appear to experience in the face of the uncertainty of their recurrent disease, would be invaluable when developing a theoretical framework to guide future research and nursing care.