A Study on Selected Aspects of the Quality of Life of People in Remission after Cancer Treatment with the use of the Individual in-depth Interview Technique

Background: A characteristic feature of cancer is, among other things, that even after successful oncological treatment, the patient cannot close this chapter of life and the experience of being a cancer patient. In oncology there is no unambiguous definition of a patient as a healthy person. Methods: The study covered a group of 20 people. In the conducted tests the diagnostic survey method was introduced. The technique of individual in-depth interviews was used. The respondent could fully express his or her own feelings, emotions, thoughts and experiences. Results. The respondents stated that positive emotions appeared with the completion of treatment, but indicated that the feelings were not related to the sense of healing but only to the completion of tiring therapeutic procedures. Some respondents complained about the feeling of chronic fatigue. Fatigue was not only related to the physical sphere, although everyone confirmed that the side effects of the therapy persisted for some time. The respondents paid more attention to mental fatigue, which had various forms, e.g.: anxiety about possible relapse; functional losses; feeling of loss caused by radical treatment. Out of 20 respondents, 4 persons indicated a loss of health, especially the sense of joy and happiness, self-esteem, self-confidence, social contacts, family and time. Conclusions: The research group consisted of 20 respondents, which limits the possibility of formulating generalized conclusions, but indicates various directions of possible improvement and, most importantly, shows how the thinking about cancer can be changed.

Automated summary

After completion of cancer treatment, patients experience positive emotions, not necessarily related to healing but rather to the relief of finishing therapeutic procedures. Chronic fatigue is a common complaint, mainly in terms of mental fatigue related to anxiety about relapse, functional losses, and feelings of loss due to aggressive treatment.