It's just a flu or a death sentence: A descriptive qualitative study on illness perceptions of cancer patients across four paradoxes

Basit Öğe Kaydı
dc.authorid0000-0003-2279-2865
dc.contributor.authorGuner, Perihan
dc.contributor.authorInci, Figen
dc.contributor.authorYildirim, Nazmiye
dc.contributor.authorKucukkaya, Aycan
dc.contributor.authorGoktas, Polat
dc.date.accessioned2026-04-04T18:55:57Z
dc.date.available2026-04-04T18:55:57Z
dc.date.issued2026
dc.departmentİstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi
dc.description.abstractThis descriptive qualitative study explored how individuals with cancer perceive their illness across different stages and contexts. Using a reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) framework, the study followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) for transparency. Data were gathered through six semi-structured focus group discussions with 35 patients diagnosed with breast, lung, colorectal, or gastric cancer. Purposive sampling continued until sufficient information was obtained. Analysis yielded four overarching themes: (1) paradox of illness description, (2) paradox of disease causation, (3) paradox of treatment effects, and (4) paradox of life disruption. Participants expressed ambivalent understandings of cancer, some viewing it as a manageable, flu-like condition, while others experienced it as a life-threatening, identity-defining event. Similar tensions emerged regarding perceived causes, treatment responses, and the illness's broader impact. These paradoxes highlight the complexity of cancer perceptions and the need for individualised, psychosocially informed care across the illness trajectory.
dc.description.sponsorshipVehbi Ko Foundation Nursing Fund in Istanbul, Turkey [2017.2.22]
dc.description.sponsorshipThe authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Vehbi Koc Foundation Nursing Fund in Istanbul, Turkey (Grant number [2017.2.22]). This sponsor had no role in the study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, writing of the report, and the decision to submit the article for publication.
dc.identifier.doi10.1177/13591053251404345
dc.identifier.doi10.1177/13591053251404345
dc.identifier.issn1359-1053
dc.identifier.issn1461-7277
dc.identifier.pmid41540797
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-105027594928
dc.identifier.scopusqualityQ1
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1177/13591053251404345
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11411/10634
dc.identifier.wosWOS:001662032400001
dc.identifier.wosqualityQ2
dc.indekslendigikaynakWeb of Science
dc.indekslendigikaynakScopus
dc.indekslendigikaynakPubMed
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSage Publications Ltd
dc.relation.ispartofJournal of Health Psychology
dc.relation.publicationcategoryMakale - Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi - Kurum Öğretim Elemanı
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.snmzKA_WoS_20260402
dc.snmzKA_Scopus_20260402
dc.subjectCancer Survivors
dc.subjectIllness Perceptions
dc.subjectPatient Experiences
dc.subjectQualitative Research
dc.subjectPsychosocial Oncology
dc.subjectPatient-Centred Care
dc.titleIt's just a flu or a death sentence: A descriptive qualitative study on illness perceptions of cancer patients across four paradoxes
dc.typeArticle

Dosyalar

Koleksiyon

Web of Science Indexed Publications
PubMed Indexed Publications
Scopus Indexed Publications