Reports of ‘growth’ in survivors of non‐small cell lung cancer and healthy controls: what is the value‐added by the cancer experience?

Abstract

In sum, the growth evidenced by LC survivors after diagnosis quantitatively and qualitatively differs from growth reported by the general population over a similar period. Estimates of the value-added by the cancer experience suggest a magnitude representing at least the lower range of clinical significance.

Positive aspects of having had cancer: A mixed‐methods analysis of responses from the American Cancer Society Study of Cancer Survivors‐II (SCS‐II)

“…Indeed, cancer survivors report positive aspects as indicated by moderate to high levels of benefit finding and posttraumatic growth . Moreover, cancer survivors indicate greater personal growth when compared to healthy controls, that is, adults 18 years and older with no cancer history other than basal cell carcinoma, suggesting that the cancer experience may be a catalyst for significant personal benefit . A positive focus on one's cancer experience has also been associated with reduced levels of stress‐response biomarkers and enhanced resistance to stress‐induced immune challenges .…”

“…7 Moreover, cancer survivors indicate greater personal growth when compared to healthy controls, that is, adults 18 years and older with no cancer history other than basal cell carcinoma, suggesting that the cancer experience may be a catalyst for significant personal benefit. 1 A positive focus on one's cancer experience has also been associated with reduced levels of stress-response biomarkers 2 and enhanced resistance to stress-induced immune challenges. 8 As such, focusing on positive aspects on the cancer trajectory is especially important given the strengths-based avenues it may provide for developing psychosocial interventions to enhance survivorship quality of care and life and delineating the dimensions of positive aspects specific to cancer survivors.…”

“…Survivorship research focused on the positive aspects from experiencing cancer has burgeoned in recent years . This research indicates that after cancer, survivors often report renewed life vitality, redefined priorities, and positive behavioral and other life changes.…”

Between Two Worlds

“…Herein, liminal persons share commonality in that there is no place to go, nowhere to be, yet a transformative potential exists. In contrast to the previous studies of cancer illness as an indeterminate or permanent state of liminality, many cancer survivors report coming through a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment with a more authentic sense of self and gratitude toward life (Andrykowski, Steffens, Bush, & Tucker, 2013;Koutrouli, Anagnostopoulos, & Potamianos, 2012), suggesting between this "old self" and "new self" lies an existential plane which is the liminal space. Yet, attainment of a transformed self for late-stage cancer patients is bounded by impending death and questions of meaning and meaninglessness as existential conflicts surface.…”

A week in the life of lung cancer survivors: Daily reports of stress, worry, mood, and symptoms

“…This finding has important implications for the cancer survivorship field. Survivors may benefit from knowledge that when treatment is completed, and they have had some time to gain distance from the shock of initial diagnosis (Donnelly et al, 2000; Holland, 2004), challenges of surgery (Lin et al, 2013; Walker et al, 2006; Wilkie et al, 2010), and postoperative treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation (Walker et al, 2006), they are likely to regain a sense of balance and equilibrium (Downe-Wamboldt et al, 2006; John, 2010) and may even experience existential growth (Andrykowski et al, 2013).…”