The suffering experiences of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in China: a qualitative study.

Abstract

To explore the suffering experiences of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in China. This qualitative study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analysed using Colaizzi's seven-step method. The study was conducted at a university-affiliated cancer centre in Southwest China. A total of 20 patients diagnosed with NPC were recruited through purposive sampling between January and April 2024. 'Disruption to reinvention' emerged as a unifying thread that integrated three main themes (and nine subthemes): (1) beginning of suffering: plunged into a world of illness (denial and fear, significant concern and life in chaos); (2) struggle for adjustment: a rollercoaster experience (suffering trajectory, aggravating factors and alleviating factors) and (3) beyond suffering: living with illness (perceived benefits, new normal in life and personal growth). The suffering experiences of patients with NPC represent a complex and dynamic process. People with NPC frequently experience multiple sufferings, disrupting their lives. Notably, most patients progressed from disruption to reinvention, reflecting the possibility that suffering can be transcended. The findings of this study can assist healthcare professionals in better identifying the suffering of patients and its influencing factors, allowing for the tailoring of interventions to alleviate their suffering.