• To recognise the need to include the perspectives of children and adolescents with cancer in research and practice
• To identify the value of seeking children’s and adolescents’ perspectives in developing child-centred interventions
• To gain a greater understanding of the experiences of children and adolescents following a diagnosis of cancer
Background All healthcare professionals working with children should have a child-centred perspective, and should be responsive to children and adolescents who want to talk about their thoughts and feelings. The child’s or adolescent’s story is the starting point for mutual understanding between them and the healthcare professional, and is the basis for shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals in child-centred care.
Aim To advance understanding of how Swedish children and adolescents with cancer perceived the effects of the disease and its treatment on their everyday life.
Method Ten girls and five boys, aged between five and 18 years, with cancer were interviewed individually using four communication tools. The interviews lasted between 20 and 65 minutes and took place without their parents present. The data were analysed using content analysis.
Findings Transition to an unpredictable everyday life was identified as a main theme, with five subthemes: struggling with side effects of the cancer and its treatment; treatment as an ‘emotional rollercoaster’; changed self and being vulnerable; changed social life; and concerns about academic achievement.
Conclusion To provide effective support and care for children and adolescents with cancer, healthcare professionals should strive to listen to them and focus on their perspectives.
Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2020.e1304
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to open peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Nilsson S, Eriksson A, Sörman A et al (2020) Children’s and adolescents’ experiences of living with cancer. Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2020.e1304
The authors would like to thank all the children and adolescents who participated in the study and so generously gave their time and shared their experiences
Published online: 23 November 2020
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