Perceptions of Fertility and Coping Strategies Among Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Objective: Patients undergoing cancer treatment are concerned about its negative fertility effects, frequently feeling unsupported by healthcare staff. Understanding patients’ feelings and perspectives toward fertility is considered important for planning their care. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the feelings and perspectives of cancer patients regarding fertility. Material and Methods: The study included thirteen participants who had been diagnosed with cancer at least one year prior, were not in the terminal stage, were over 18 years of age, and had at least a primary school education. The study utilized a descriptive qualitative approach . The researcher employed a face-to-face interview strategy to collect data, using a semi-structured interview form. Data were analyzed through content analysis. Results: Four main themes emerged from the data: Emotions experienced, prioritizing recovery , desire to have a child, and coping. The majority of patients stated that having children is their top desire, although they still want to recover. The patients' feelings of anxiety, fear, grief, and humiliation around their impacted fertility and the likelihood that they would not be able to conceive were found to be present. Patients coped with their condition through support from family members, relatives, and healthcare professionals; the use of personal coping strategies; positive thinking; reliance on religion; and fertility-preserving treatments. Conclusion: Patients expressed concern regarding the effects of cancer treatments on fertility. It is crucial to provide patients diagnosed with cancer with information about the potential impact of the disease and its treatments on fertility, as well as available fertility-preserving options.

Keywords

• cancer
• Fertility
• fertility preservation
• qualitative research

Kanser Hastalarının Fertiliteye Yönelik Algıları ve Baş Etme Stratejileri: Kalitatif Araştırma

Abstract

Amaç: Kanser ve beraberinde uygulanan tedaviler bireylerin fertilitesini etkileyebilmektedir. Bu nedenle hastalar doğurganlıklarının etkilenmesine yönelik endişeler yaşamakta, buna karşılık sağlık profesyonellerinden yeterince destek görememektedir. Kanser hastalarının fertiliteye yönelik duygu ve düşüncelerinin farkında olunmasının hastaların bakımını planlamada önem taşıdığı düşünülmektedir. Bu araştırmanın amacı kanser hastalarının fertiliteye yönelik algılarının ve baş etmelerinin incelenmesidir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırma, tanımlayıcı kalitatif bir çalışmadır. Araştırmaya en az bir yıl önce kanser tanısı almış, terminal dönemde olmayan, en az ilköğretim mezunu, 18 yaş üstü 13 katılımcı alınmıştır. Araştırmada veriler yarı-yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılarak araştırmacı tarafından yüz yüze derinlemesine görüşme tekniği ile toplanmıştır. Araştırmada içerik analizi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Veriler dört ana tema altında toplanmıştır: Yaşanan duygular, önceliğin iyileşme olması, çocuk sahibi olma isteği ve baş etme. Hastaların çoğu önceliklerinin iyileşme olduğunu belirtse de çocuk sahibi olmayı istemektedir. Hastaların doğurganlıklarının olumsuz etkilenmesine bağlı endişe, korku, üzüntü ve utanma gibi duygular yaşadıkları saptanmıştır. Hastalar, aile üyeleri, yakınları ve sağlık personelinin desteği; kendi baş etme davranışları; pozitif düşünce; dine yönelme; ve fertilite koruyucu tedaviler aracılığıyla durumlarıyla başa çıkmışlardır. Sonuç: Hastalar kanser tedavilerinin fertilite üzerindeki etkilerine yönelik endişeler yaşamıştır. Kanser tanısı alan hastalara, kanser ve beraberinde uygulanan tedavilerin fertiliteye etkileri ve fertilite koruyucu tedavilere yönelik bilgi verilmesi gereklidir.

Keywords

• Doğurganlık
• fertilitenin korunması
• kanser
• nitel araştırma

Ethical Statement

Araştırma için Pamukkale Üniversitesi Girişimsel Olmayan Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu’ndan (etik kurul onay tarihi ve numarası: 17/ 01/ 2018 – 601 16787- 020/ 4299) izin alınmıştır.

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