Conceptions of Cancer: The Perspectives of Child and Adolescent Patients and Their Families

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Abstract
The study examined what child and adolescent cancer patients understand about their disease and treatment. Patients' conceptions of cancer were explored in relation to two factors: their families' conceptions and their age. Participants were child and adolescent cancer patients undergoing intensive treatment for advanced stages of solid tumors and lymphomas, and a member of the family of each patient. A structured taped interview was used to determine knowledge of cancer and treatment. Categories were constructed which allowed trained raters to assign a l-to-9 rating to participants' responses to interview questions. Patient scores were related to their own family members' scores on the following categories: Knowledge of Illness, Future Affect, Future Reality, and Participation in the Environment. Patient scores were related to the scores of random family members on Complexity of Knowledge and Life Orientation. For the patients, age was negatively related to Life Orientation.

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