[Not Available].

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Oncology
• Psychology

Background:

• Incurable cancer significantly impacts older women, often leading to suffering.
• Communication challenges within social circles are frequently associated with this suffering.
• Limited research exists on communication-related suffering in older women with incurable cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the suffering associated with communication among older women (65+) diagnosed with incurable cancer.
• To understand the nuances of communication dynamics and their impact on well-being in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory qualitative research utilizing humanistic psychology principles.
• Phenomenological analysis of 19 semi-structured interviews with 10 participants.
• Focus on conceptual categories emerging from participant experiences.

Main Results:

• Identified a dynamic of silence: sometimes desired to prevent suffering, other times imposed and causing suffering.
• Revealed that lack of listening, imposed silence, and minimized communication contribute to suffering.
• Explored the consequences of illness disclosure and its associated suffering.

Conclusions:

• Communication dynamics, including silence and disclosure, profoundly affect the suffering of older women with incurable cancer.
• Addressing communication barriers and promoting empathetic listening are crucial for improving quality of life.
• Further research is needed to develop targeted communication interventions for this population.