Experiences of Head and Neck Cancer Patients in Middle Adulthood: Consequences and Coping
The head and neck cancer (HNC) rate is rising among the middle-aged adult population. This trend has been attributed primarily to human papillomavirus exposure. An HNC diagnosis and its complex treatments may trigger life-changing physical, emotional, and social consequences. An interpretive descrip...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Book |
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SAGE Publishing,
2018-03-01T00:00:00Z.
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| Online Access: | Connect to this object online. |
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| Summary: | The head and neck cancer (HNC) rate is rising among the middle-aged adult population. This trend has been attributed primarily to human papillomavirus exposure. An HNC diagnosis and its complex treatments may trigger life-changing physical, emotional, and social consequences. An interpretive descriptive study was conducted to describe the experiences of a purposive sample of 10 middle-aged adults who had experienced HNC. Two main themes were identified: consequences of HNC and coping with HNC. Subthemes of consequences of HNC included: voicelessness; being or looking sick; shifts in family dynamics; and sexual practices, sexual feelings, and stigma. Subthemes of coping with HNC included seeking information, discovering inner strengths, relying on a support network, establishing a sense of normalcy, and finding meaning within the experience. Supportive nursing interventions were identified by considering results from the standpoint of King's theory of goal attainment. |
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| Item Description: | 2333-3936 10.1177/2333393618760337 |