Support Experiences in Individuals Coping with Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Background: While there is evidence demonstrating a link between social support and adaptive coping in cancer patients, less is known about support in the context of advanced cancer. An understanding of how support facilitates adaptive coping may inform interventions to improve outcomes after diagnosis. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore experiences of support in patients coping with the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Methods: Individuals with metastatic colorectal cancer (N=26, average age=58, 50% women, 35% African-American) were recruited in a regional cancer clinic. Participants completed telephone interviews and content analysis was used to explore themes concerning support.

Results: Support was consistently described as central to respondents' coping experiences. Three major themes emerged: 1) faith, 2) friends and family, and 3) physicians. Faith in God's omnipotence and the comfort of prayer provided emotional and spiritual support. Family and friends offered positive and negative emotional and practical support. For example, simply “being there” at diagnosis was viewed as supportive while pity was discouraging. Physicians conveyed instrumental and informational support through open communication. Notably “straight-forward and frank” communication from the physician with an acknowledgement that every patient is different, was seen as hopeful and encouraging.

Conclusions: A consideration of the social environment of patients with advanced cancer can help identify unmet needs at diagnosis and during care. Future studies should investigate how to incorporate patients' existing support resources into patient-centered models of care in an effort to improve quality of life.