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Patients' experiences of carcinoma of unknown primary site: dealing with uncertainty
1Countess Mountbatten House, Moorgreen Hospital, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, Botley Road, West End, Southampton. lucy.boyland@oakhavenhospice.co.uk
Unlabelled:
It is generally acknowledged that patients may find it particularly hard to accept a cancer diagnosis if the primary origin cannot be identified. However, there is very little research exploring this.
Aims:
This is an exploratory mixed-method, largely qualitative, pilot study to explore patients' understanding of carcinoma of unknown primary site, any concerns they may have and to assess their quality of life.
Methods:
Ten patients were recruited and nine completed semi-structured interviews and McGill quality of life questionnaires. Thematic analysis was used in conjunction with demographic data and quality of life scores.
Results:
Six main themes were identified. These were--poor understanding, struggling with uncertainty/contrasting with stoical acceptance, undergoing multiple investigations, inability to treat, healthcare professionals not having the answers and difficulty explaining to others.
Conclusion:
Many patients find the uncertainty difficult and would welcome more opportunity to ask questions and learn of others' experiences.
