TY - JOUR
T1 - Fear of Cancer Progression and Death Anxiety in Survivors of Advanced Colorectal Cancer
T2 - A Qualitative Study Exploring Coping Strategies and Quality of Life
AU - Lim, Chloe Yi Shing
AU - Laidsaar-Powell, Rebekah C.
AU - Young, Jane M.
AU - Solomon, Michael
AU - Steffens, Daniel
AU - Blinman, Prunella
AU - O’Loughlin, Scott
AU - Zhang, Yuehan
AU - Butow, Phyllis
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - This study aimed to examine coping strategies used by advanced colorectal cancer (CRC-A) survivors to manage death anxiety and fear of cancer progression, and links between these strategies and quality of life (QoL), distress, and death acceptance. Qualitative semi-structured interviews of 38 CRC-A survivors (22 female) were analysed via framework analysis. QoL and distress were assessed through the FACT-C and Distress Thermometer. Eleven themes were identified and mapped to active avoidance (keeping busy and distracted), passive avoidance (hoping for a cure), active confrontation (managing negative emotions; reaching out to others; focusing on the present; staying resilient), meaning-making (redefining one’s identity; contributing to society; gaining perspective; remaining spiritual), and acceptance (accepting one’s situation). Active confrontation (specifically utilising informal support networks) and meaning-making appeared beneficial coping strategies; more research is needed to develop and evaluate interventions which increase CRC-A survivors’ use of these strategies to manage and cope with their death anxiety.
AB - This study aimed to examine coping strategies used by advanced colorectal cancer (CRC-A) survivors to manage death anxiety and fear of cancer progression, and links between these strategies and quality of life (QoL), distress, and death acceptance. Qualitative semi-structured interviews of 38 CRC-A survivors (22 female) were analysed via framework analysis. QoL and distress were assessed through the FACT-C and Distress Thermometer. Eleven themes were identified and mapped to active avoidance (keeping busy and distracted), passive avoidance (hoping for a cure), active confrontation (managing negative emotions; reaching out to others; focusing on the present; staying resilient), meaning-making (redefining one’s identity; contributing to society; gaining perspective; remaining spiritual), and acceptance (accepting one’s situation). Active confrontation (specifically utilising informal support networks) and meaning-making appeared beneficial coping strategies; more research is needed to develop and evaluate interventions which increase CRC-A survivors’ use of these strategies to manage and cope with their death anxiety.
KW - bowel cancer
KW - cancer survivorship
KW - death acceptance
KW - fear of cancer recurrence
KW - qualitative interviews
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85138526454&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/00302228221121493
DO - 10.1177/00302228221121493
M3 - Article
SN - 0030-2228
VL - 90
JO - Omega: Journal of Death and Dying
JF - Omega: Journal of Death and Dying
IS - 3
ER -