The Symptom Experience and Self-management Strategies of Women Undergoing Cervical Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Signs and symptoms Uterine cervical neoplasmsBackground: Cervical cancer treatment modalities, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and brachytherapy, often result in short-and long-term adverse effects such as nausea, fatigue, and sexual dysfunction. Chemotherapy and radiation are typically provided on an outpatient basis, requiring women to be more active in selfmanaging their symptoms at home. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore how women with cervical cancer experience symptoms and manage daily life during treatment. Methods: Individual interviews with 10 women diagnosed with cervical cancer and undergoing curative concurrent chemotherapy and radiation were carried out. Data analysis was conducted using a phenomenological-hermeneutic perspective, inspired by Ricoeur. Results: Three themes were identified based on the interviews: (1) new life perspectives, (2) suffering in silence, and (3) enhanced symptom self-management strategies. Conclusion: Diagnosis and treatment create an opportunity for the women to critically reflect on their lives and to develop new life perspectives. During treatment, a mental transformation involving the use of various individual social, mental, and physical coping strategies allowed the women to manage their daily lives. This enabled self-management strategies, resulting in maintaining a sense of normalcy, trying to defy the adverse effects, and prioritizing themselves, their families, and the treatment. Implications for Practice: Women with cervical cancer undergoing oncological treatment need more specific and

Patient perspectives and experiences of the rapid implementation of digital consultations during COVID-19 — a qualitative study among women with gynecological cancer

“…A primary concern of women with gynecological cancer during COVID-19 is that their disease will progress because of treatment disruption [5]. These women experience a high level of symptom distress and have psychological concerns and unmet information needs [6][7][8][9]. It is known that appropriate information enables patients to identify and use self-management strategies to improve their well-being [9].…”

Experiences and perspectives of patients and clinicians in nurse-led clinics in an oncological setting: A sequential multi-methods study

“…According to Annerstedt (2019) this is a well-known yet overlooked problem in oncology nursing. Since problems with sexuality and body image are well-known side effects of cancer and its treatment (Christiansen et al, 2022, Ussher et al, 2012, de Vocht et al, 2011, we recommend giving this issue more prominence in oncology nursing. Traumer et al (2019), who also found that the responsibility rests on CNS to address topics of a more sensitive and private nature, established that female J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f page 16 af 20 patients found that talking about sexuality with another woman was easier, which perhaps contributed to the frequency with which they were discussed in nurse-led consultations in this study.…”

“…Chemotherapy can cause a variety of toxicities resulting in burdensome side effects. Hence, identifying and communicating clearly about symptoms and side effects are important for patients to manage symptoms to receive optimal treatment (Christiansen et al, 2022). Consequently, outpatient-based chemotherapy clinics led by clinical nurse specialists (CNS) have been widely established to provide ideal clinical assessment and symptom management during oncological treatment (Farrell et al, 2017).…”

Development of a supportive care needs eHealth application for patients with cervical cancer undergoing surgery: a feasibility study

“…Interventions aimed at monitoring supportive care needs should be available. Yet, how to help women undergoing cervical cancer treatment manage the supportive care needs throughout hospital and home was less explored [4]. Evidence for supportive care needs management strategies provided for women mainly focused more on stage of cervical cancer screening, cancer prevention systems [9], informal social support system and follow-up monitoring for postoperative patients with early-stage [10], and symptom management during oncological treatment [11].…”

“…There were no group differences at baseline. The perceived supportive care supply part of both groups increased by a week, as measured by their perceived care coordination and communication needs scores (IG: 2.72 vs 4…”