Abstract:
This research constitutes the first New Zealand study to explore the emotional and interpersonal aspects of fertility damage and/or premature menopause from cancer treatments. Using a qualitative approach, the study provides an in-depth exploration and interpretation of how seventeen women, with varied cancer diagnoses, experienced these ongoing and life-changing effects of their cancer treatments, using the theory of chronic sorrow as the conceptual framework.This method enabled a deeper understanding than could be attained using a different approach. The theory of chronic sorrow provided an opportunity to recognize and explore aspects of these women’s experiences that have not been explored previously in this group of cancer survivors. Data for the study were collected through semi-structured interviews with 17 New Zealand women. The data were analysed using general inductive analysis techniques. For fourteen of the seventeen participants, the cancer diagnosis and treatment resulted in often significant disruptions to their lives, identities and intimate relationships, in response to which they struggled, to varying degrees, with ongoing emotional distress. In addition, the findings showed a notable increase in distress associated with engagement with processes such as fertility preservation, assisted reproductive technologies, adoption and surrogacy. The remaining three participants, however, described positive responses and personal growth, suggesting the possibility of such responses for other people in similar situations. Further to this, health professionals did not adequately provide, allow or encourage discussions about issues related to fertility and premature menopause, which contributed to the difficulties and distress described by some participants. While the distress described in this study can be interpreted as a normal and understandable response to the losses and life disruptions these participants had experienced, this does not suggest that the amelioration of this distress should not be attended to by health professionals through appropriate screening, diagnostic and intervention activities. Despite the suggestion that the participants were objectively cancer-free, physically well and functioning normally, many continued to suffer considerably in the aftermath of cancer and its treatment.