An Anthropological Study of Endometrial Cancer: Patient Perspectives and Illness Experiences

Anne Sidenius*

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Abstrakt

Most women with endometrial cancer are diagnosed at an early stage and the prognosis for survival is good. Still, the diagnosis is assumed to be a transformational life event. The majority of endometrial cancer patients in Denmark are now offered Laparoscopic Hysterectomy, which is less physically stressful and therefore entails a shorter period of hospitalization than traditional open surgery – usually the patient is discharged from the hospital the same day or the day after surgery.

Alongside technological developments the Danish health authorities have increased efforts to improve the cancer survival by implementing standard treatment pathways that intend to offer quick diagnoses and treatment in so-
called fast-track programs. In these programs, time frames for the different
phases of the treatment process are precisely determined, but they don’t include
the support that a cancer course requires in relation to the profound life changes it brings – at least not in principle.

There is still insufficient knowledge of needs and expectations of
endometrial cancer patients in relation to the entire process of treatment and rehabilitation, including how they experience and handle such fast-track treatment. Thus, a course of treatment as rapid and concentrated as is the case
with endometrial cancer, can raise particular challenges for support and patient care that are difficult to accommodate due to a lack of knowledge of the patient’s needs and experiences.

The aim of this presentation is to identify elements of illness perceptions among women with endometrial cancer in order to gain further knowledge about how patients handle and perceive their illness and treatment situation as well as the psychosocial implications of endometrial cancer.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftPsycho-Oncology
Vol/bind3
Sider (fra-til)165
Antal sider166
ISSN1057-9249
StatusUdgivet - 2014
Udgivet eksterntJa
BegivenhedIPOS. The 16th Annual World Congress of Psycho-Oncology and Psychosocial Academy - Lissabon, Portugal
Varighed: 15 okt. 201417 okt. 2014

Konference

KonferenceIPOS. The 16th Annual World Congress of Psycho-Oncology and Psychosocial Academy
Land/OmrådePortugal
ByLissabon
Periode15/10/201417/10/2014

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