2019 Volume 39 Pages 278-287
Purpose: To describe how elderly patients experience and respond to the life changes after colorectal cancer surgery.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews of nine elderly patients, who had undergone surgery for colorectal cancer, followed by qualitative content analysis of the responses.
Results: Elderly patients experienced changes in life after colorectal cancer surgery. These changes were perceived differently by each patient. There are three types of recognition of the life changes in the post-operative period: experiences a decline in the life function, decrease in activity due to a decline in energy and physical strength, and no symptoms, or even if there are symptoms, the life does not change. During the recovery/adaptation and maintenance period, patients became aware of functional decline due to aging: some were aware of positive changes, such as life expectancy, while others became aware of the conflict between life and aging. Additionally, one patient felt both these changes at the same time.
Conclusion: In post-discharge support for elderly patients after colectomy, it would be desirably to provide support not only to evaluate disease and symptoms, but also in the continuous understanding of the life changes after surgery and the response of the patients themselves.
