LIVED EXISTENTIAL EXPERIENCES AMONG YOUNG ADULTS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Background: Cancer is a major health issue which affect the quality of life of a person. Aim: The aim of present study was to explore lived existential experiences of young adults diagnosed with cancer Methods: The present study was a qualitative study that included 30 young adult cancer patients of age group 20- 44 years who were admitted in different Oncology units of the hospital in 2018. Review of the patients? case data sheets was done for identifying clinical variables. Qualitative data were collected by using open ended questionnaire regarding young adult?s cancer patient?s experiences, feeling and difficulties faced during cancer diagnosis and treatment. Results: When patient were first told about cancer diagnosis first, they feel sad. Their primary relatives were first informed about their diagnosis. Cancer was diagnosed in first stage in case of most of the patients. Cancer had affected patient?s personal as well as social life completely. Majority of cancer treatment options were chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery and majority of them were getting chemotherapy from AIIMS, Rishikesh. Most common difficulty the patient?s faced during diagnosis of cancer was financial hardship. Patient?s opinion for cancer and its treatment were that everybody who was having any symptoms of cancer should report immediately to a hospital for treatment. When we asked them about effect of cancer as a whole their responses were disturbed family role, disturbed relationship with family and friends, disturbed social role, financial burden as well as disturbed education respectively. Conclusion: From this study we concluded that lived experiences of young adults diagnosed with cancer as challenging. It may also help to plan ahead by patients as well as health professional to improve the patient?s quality of life.