Exploring symptom clusters in patients with lung cancer

Abstract: This thesis explored symptom clusters in patients with lung cancer before, during and after oncological treatment. A literature review and an interview study was used to explore the symptom cluster experience from the patients’ perspective. A large diversity of symptom cluster constellations were identified, in which fatigue was the most commonly occurring symptom, followed by dyspnea, pain, depression, cough and nutritional impact symptoms. Many symptom assessment instruments were identified, measuring mostly the intensity-dimension alone or in combination with timing. The results also stress that living with symptom clusters during treatment is more about survival than actually living. Patients’ symptom management strategies were shaped by impacting conditions such as knowledge and earlier experience of symptoms. Symptoms were often regarded as unavoidable by the patients and something to accept. How symptoms were recognized by health care professionals further added to the normalization of symptom clusters. Subsequently, patients would not always ask for support, and their quality of life was negatively affected. Holistic person-centered care including multi-dimensional symptom assessment is considered essential to ensure adequate symptom cluster management for patients with lung cancer.