Reflecting a crisis reaction: Narratives from patients with oesophageal cancer about the first 6 months after diagnosis and surgery

AIM: The aim of the study was to describe patients' experiences of emotional adaption following treatment for oesophageal cancer from diagnosis to 6 months after surgery. DESIGN: A qualitative interview study using an inductive approach was carried out. METHODS: Participants were recruited from two university hospitals in Sweden. Ten patients who had been operated for oesophageal cancer with curative intent 6 months earlier and consented to participate in the study were included. Patients who had a disease recurrence were not eligible for inclusion. Participants were interviewed with a semi‐structured interview approach. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: One overarching theme was identified; Experiencing a crisis reaction, which comprised three key categories; (a) From emotionally numb to feeling quite alright; (b) From a focus on cure to reflections about a whole new life; and (c) From a severe treatment to suffering an emaciated, non‐compliant body, derived from 14 distinct sub‐categories. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the process of emotional adaptation following oesophageal cancer surgery that patients describe when reflecting back on the first 6 months postoperatively pointing to a crisis reaction in this early postoperative period.