The shot that penetrated my heart : lived experiences of persons with non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often remains undetected until symptoms manifest themselves. This may lead to individuals typically presenting at an advanced stage, and this heavily influences their prognosis. Consequently, those diagnosed with NSCLC are confronted with the reality of a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Furthermore, there is a dearth in experiential, qualitative literature focusing on the lived experiences of people diagnosed with NSCLC, both from a local and international perspective. Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the lived experiences of individuals diagnosed with NSCLC. The objectives of this study are to understand the impact of living with NSCLC, to gain insight into the needs and concerns of individuals who are diagnosed with NSCLC, and to explore how they strive to cope. Design: A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted based upon the principles of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Setting: Seven interviews were carried out in the participant’s residence. One interview was carried out at the participant’s place of work. Participants: Eight adults diagnosed with NSCLC, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 2. Method: Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants for this study. Participants were asked to either capture a photograph or make a drawing that reflects their experience of living with NSCLC. The imagery was then used as a cue to the interview. Semi-structured audio-recorded interviews were conducted with all the participants. The data was transcribed verbatim and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Three Group Experiential Themes and their corresponding subthemes emerged from participants’ interviews. The first GET, ‘The world came crashing down on me’, focuses on the lived experience of people with NSCLC during the diagnostic phase. The second GET, ‘Cut off from the world’ delves into the various challenges encountered by the participants during treatment. The third GET, ‘Life needs to go on’, provides insight into the coping mechanisms employed by the participants to manage the challenges they encountered while living with NSCLC. Conclusion: Being diagnosed with NSCLC and undergoing treatment had a profound impact on their physical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. Participants coped by accepting life’s reality, exerting control, finding hope, immersing in nature, and turning to spirituality. The participants' ability to endure their lived experience of NSCLC was also significantly influenced by their support networks, which included family, friends, and healthcare professionals. The use of images created by the participants to depict their personal experience of being diagnosed with NSCLC enriched their narratives and provided a visual aid for understanding their lived experiences. Based on the findings of this study, numerous recommendations, mainly for policy and management, clinical practice, and further research were put forth.