Coping longer-term with CUP

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Patients’ experiences of coping longer-term with cancer of unknown primary

  • IRAS ID

    251064

  • Contact name

    Hayley Slater

  • Contact email

    h.slater1@lancaster.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Lancaster University

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    not applicable, not applicable

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 7 months, 28 days

  • Research summary

    This study will seek to explore the experiences of coping of individuals who are living 'longer-term' with cancer of unknown primary (CUP) i.e. being maintained/stabilised on treatment over 6-months post-diagnosis. This group of patients represent a relatively small sub-group as, unfortunately, a CUP diagnosis is often received in the later stages of illness with a poor prognosis. Research with populations experiencing other cancer diagnoses has highlighted that a range of coping strategies are employed with direct impacts on psychological distress. Uncertainty has been identified as a factor which increases distress for those with cancer. Relatively little is known about the experiences of those diagnosed with CUP, which is a condition entailing a great deal of uncertainty in relation to prognosis, treatment, and illness progression and no research so far has focused specifically upon patients who are stable on treatment so far beyond their diagnosis, and as such have been living with CUP for a prolonged period. Therefore the current study will investigate coping experiences within this population. Data will be gathered via interviews with patients.

  • REC name

    North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    19/NW/0096

  • Date of REC Opinion

    9 Apr 2019

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion