"The Cancer is My Life": patient and caregiver perceptions of the time toxicity of palliative systemic cancer treatments for advanced gastrointestinal cancers.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Treatment for advanced cancer entails substantial time commitments, which has been labelled the 'time toxicity' of treatment, though the perspectives of people affected by cancer are still being established. We aimed to establish patient and caregiver perspectives on the 'time toxicity' of palliative systemic treatments.

Methods

Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted using an inductive approach. Purposively selected adults with advanced gastrointestinal cancers who had received palliative systemic therapy and caregivers were recruited from one metropolitan and regional site. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Twenty patients and ten caregivers participated. Eighty percent were Australian-born, 60% were 55-74 years old, 57%

SUBMITTER: Stevens SX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12152011 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature