Cancer as biographical disruption: Constructions of living with cancer

Journal article


Hubbard, Gill and Forbat, Liz. (2012). Cancer as biographical disruption: Constructions of living with cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer. 20(9), pp. 2033 - 2040. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1311-9
AuthorsHubbard, Gill and Forbat, Liz
Abstract

Purpose: From a cancer survivor perspective, the purpose of this paper is to explore what has changed in their lives that they attribute to the disease. The rationale for the study is that evidence of the extent to which cancer disrupts people’s lives in the longer term is contradictory. Methods: Written accounts from 40 cancer survivors were analysed using interpretative methods. The researchers drew on the concept of biographical disruption as a framework for analysis. Results: Cancer survivors construct cancer as a biographically disruptive event with ongoing physical and psychosocial impacts. Cancer is constructed as a permanent threat to life which is responsible for increasing their awareness of their own mortality and invoking positive changes to self. These formulations of living with cancer were found across a range of participants, including those who defined themselves as currently free of cancer, those who had recurrence, those who had been diagnosed 5 years ago and those who had been free of cancer for a long time. Conclusions: This study adds to the body of literature exploring how to enhance supportive care for cancer survivors by reflecting on biographical disruption and continuity, and the complexities within individual constructions of changes in life that they attribute to cancer. Cancer survivors should be given opportunities to articulate the impact of cancer, thus giving legitimate space to talk about cancer’s ongoing resonance on life so that problems and difficulties are not dismissed or trivialised.

Keywordscancer survivor; cancer survivorship; biographical disruption
Year2012
JournalSupportive Care in Cancer
Journal citation20 (9), pp. 2033 - 2040
PublisherSpringer
ISSN0941-4355
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1311-9
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84865165112
Page range2033 - 2040
Research GroupSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationGermany
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