We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Older people's experiences of cancer pain: a qualitative study.
- Authors
Dunham, Margaret; Allmark, Peter; Collins, Karen
- Abstract
Aim To consider how the older person constructs the experience of cancer pain and how this is informed by expectations and experiences. Method Nine older people with cancer were asked to keep diaries and subsequently interviewed about their experiences of living with cancer and pain. Findings Five themes were identified -- better to be old than to be dying with cancer, maintaining control and independence, loss of identity in adapting and grieving for a former self, dislike of analgesia and denial of pain. The themes give a perspective on the embodied meaning of 'pain' in daily life. Conclusion Clinical pain assessment alone, without listening to people's pain stories, does not always identify pain or problems with daily living. Appreciation of the individuality of the lived experience of cancer can advance our understanding of pain and end of life care.
- Subjects
ENGLAND; ADAPTABILITY (Personality); CANCER pain; DENIAL (Psychology); GRIEF; HOSPICE care; INTERVIEWING; LOSS (Psychology); MEDICAL cooperation; PALLIATIVE treatment; RESEARCH; STATISTICAL sampling; QUALITATIVE research; THEMATIC analysis; PATIENTS' attitudes; DIARY (Literary form); OLD age
- Publication
Nursing Older People, 2017, Vol 29, Issue 6, p28
- ISSN
1472-0795
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.7748/nop.2017.e943