Patients use normalisation techniques to cope with the quality-of-life effects of anal cancer

Anal cancer is a rare malignancy, but during the past three decades, its incidence has increased in both sexes. Approximately 90% of anal cancers are related to human papillomavirus infection. The primary treatment for anal cancer is radiotherapy or radio-chemotherapy. This quality of life (QoL) study aimed at obtaining in-depth knowledge about patients' experiences with anal cancer and its impact on their QoL.

A literature study identified topics for qualitative interviews with six anal cancer patients who had received oncological treatment and were without recurrent disease. The interviews were analysed using a medical anthroo-logical approach focusing on patients' health-related phys-ical, psycho-sexual and social QoL.

The participants suffered from common sequelae of anal cancer treatment, mainly ano-genital pain, reduced sphincter function and sexual dysfunction. The participants employed a number of "normalisation techniques", including dissociation from other cancer patients, delimitation of the cancer to a perceived external and peripheral body part and fast resumption of their usual activities.

Anal sphincter dysfunction and sexual problems after radiotherapy for anal cancer may have a major impact on patients' QoL. By maintaining normalcy, patients tried to distance themselves from this tabooed cancer disease.

not relevant.

not relevant, but approval was obtained from the Danish Data Protection Agency.