Aims: The aim of this study is to better understand the challenges experienced by patients with cancer related cognitive impairment following chemotherapy.
Method: This study adopted a constructivist grounded theory methodology. Theoretical sampling included partners and carers of patients who had completed adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for a solid malignancy in Australia approximately six months prior to interview. Limited consent was utilised, with the purpose of the study disclosed to identify quality of life concerns after cancer treatment. The purpose of limited consent was to ensure that information shared during qualitative interviews was not limited to only data believed to be related to cognitive impairment. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews and analysed using constant comparison.
Results: The study is ongoing, with analysis continuing. The disadvantages associated with receiving multimodal cancer treatment in a rural setting experienced by one participant warrants dissemination. Thus, the focus of this paper is a narrative that provides an insight into the carer burden and quality of life challenges experienced in the first ten months from diagnosis of muscle invasive bladder cancer. This participant’s story is uniquely theirs, however the challenges faced share similarities with collective stories.
Conclusion: Models of care that incorporate rural healthcare in planning phases of complex cancer treatment will support the holistic healthcare needs of rural patients both during and after treatment.