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Lung cancer and family-centered concerns

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Abstract

Background

Genetic and environmental interactions predispose certain groups to lung cancer, including families. Families or caregiving units experience the disease interdependently. We have previously evaluated the concerns and preferences of patients in addressing the lung cancer experience and cancer risks in their families. This qualitative study evaluates the concerns and preferences of family members and caregivers of patients with lung cancer in the lung cancer experience and familial cancer risks.

Methods

We held focus groups to discuss the format and timing of addressing these preferences and concerns. Qualitative data generated was analyzed using a grounded theory approach.

Results

Five focus groups totaling 19 participants were conducted. Seven themes were identified: (1) journey to lung cancer diagnosis has core dimensions for patient and family, (2) importance of communication between patients, families, and providers, (3) challenges for caregivers and family, (4) mixed perceptions of lung cancer causation among relatives, (5) discussion of cancer risk with relatives has complex dynamics, (6) impact of diagnosis on family health behaviors and screening, (7) role of genetic counseling.

Conclusions

Family members of patients with lung cancer are interested in discussing risk factors, prevention, and diagnoses and also would like access to other supportive services do learn about and cope with some of the stresses and barriers they experience in the family lung cancer journey. The diagnosis represents a potential teachable moment with the opportunity to reduce the risk of LC development or improve early detection in LC patient’s family members.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to offer a special thank you to the staff and patients who have helped to make this project possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Bayview, 301 Mason Lord Drive, Suite 4500, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA

    Josephine Feliciano, David Ettinger, Christine Hann, Jarushka Naidoo, Michelle Turner & Valerie Peterson

  2. Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, 21218, USA

    Alexander Chang

  3. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Deepti Venkatraman, Samara Brooks & Ciara Zagaja

  4. Johns Hopkins Department of Radiation Oncology, 401 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Ranh Voong

  5. Johns Hopkins McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Russell Hales & Joann Bodurtha

Authors
  1. Josephine Feliciano
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  2. Alexander Chang
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  3. Deepti Venkatraman
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  7. Christine Hann
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  11. Michelle Turner
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Correspondence to Josephine Feliciano.

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Feliciano, J., Chang, A., Venkatraman, D. et al. Lung cancer and family-centered concerns. Support Care Cancer 28, 497–505 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04839-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04839-5

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