Table 2.

Explanation of subcategories within theoretical framework and example quotes

Factor	Subcategory	Explanation	Quote and/or example data
Problematic events	Cancer diagnosis	Being informed about the diagnosis of cancer and any challenges that arose due to it	“I went to the GP who referred me to the clinic, I got an appointment through. So I went to the doctors on the 1st April, got my appointment through on the 14th April at the breast care. And they told me there and then that it was cancer.” Female, 49
	Cancer prognosis	Explanation of the course cancer could take	“So, you know he [consultant] assured me, he said reducing it, we would reduce the chances of getting cancer in that breast by fifty percent” Female, 57
	Cancer treatment	Experience with primary cancer treatment and any challenges following	“So, I sailed through radiotherapy. I had no problems at all with it. Other than tiredness and breathlessness I sailed through it.” Female, 49
Pre-existing factors	Age	Age when interview was conducted and the influence it has had on their health	“As I say, I’m 75… Most people can’t believe that I am the sort of age that I am and I’m still cutting around and doing things” Male, 75
	Gender	Influence of gender on their cancer experience	“Being a woman and going through what I did, to have the first lot of surgery and to sort of come out with half a body, or part of a body makes you feel just like, horrendous.” Female, 54
	Chronic conditions	Any other long-term medical conditions as well as cancer	“I’d had treatment for high blood pressure for a while, but apart from that I was pretty well.” Male, 73
	Employment	Where participants currently/ previously worked and related experiences post cancer	“I had three years on and off. I tried to go back [to work] after my chemotherapy but then I had to do the radiotherapy, so I was off again.” Female, 49
	Finances	Financial situation prior to and post cancer diagnosis	“I’m 76…had a good life, was earning six figures for years so I’ve got no money worries or anything like that.” Male, 76
	Deprivation	As classified by the UK Office for National Statistics Index of Multiple Deprivation decile classification (1 = 10% most deprived to 10 = 10% least deprived.)	Least deprived 10% (Decile 10)
	Relationship status	Partner, married/divorced etc. and influence of cancer on relationship	“I’m 76, married for 52 years to a wonderful wife and mother so what have I got to moan about.” Male 76
	Urban life	Experience of living in an urban area, as classified by the ONS and reported on by the participants	“We are not in the middle of the urban mass; but on the edge.” Male, 65
Environmental factors	Health provider usage	Use of health services prior/post treatment, including compliance and follow-up care	“Our doctor is just down the road; but if something is wrong we can call the duty manager. They have some basic health training.” Male, 73
	Social support	Help from family, friends, and colleagues	“The big positive was the support I had; the family coming close around.” Male 68
	Community support	Help available from those in their local community, e.g. neighbours, local support groups	“So in that sense, there would be much less support from the community, or you being known.” Male 65
	Travel	Distance and methods used to travel to amenities	“Here, there is a bus if I ever needed it.” Female, 71
Personal factors	Personality	Personal characteristics or individual-level traits possessed by participants	“I pretty much keep myself to myself, I talk to people if I see them, you know, out and about.” Female, 44
	General self-efficacy	Participants confidence in being able to perform daily activities and self-manage their health and healthcare	“I don’t think the fact that I go to Zumba is linked to the cancer as such, it’s just a more general looking after myself sort of thing.” Female, 44
	Responsibilities	Factors that participants felt accountable towards, as well as protective factors	“I’ve got three sons and five grandchildren.” Female, 71
	Mentality	The attitude of participants	“…it is nothing compared with if I hadn’t had radiotherapy. I wouldn’t have had any pain; but I wouldn’t be here.” Male, 76
	Resilience	The ability to try to overcome hardship	“I wasn’t prepared to sit back and just feel sorry for myself.” Female, 54
	Life events	Events which may have had an influence on individual circumstances	“My wife had breast cancer and they cured it” Male, 71
Healthcare factors	Cancer type	The specific type of cancer diagnosed	“Stage 3 cancer: a malignant melanoma” Male, 68
	Treatment type	Type of primary cancer treatment undertaken	“I had a full mastectomy on the right side. I then had chemotherapy, I then had the removal of the lymph nodes, I then had radiotherapy, and tamoxifen.” Female, 49
	Rapport with clinicians	Nature of relationship between survivors and clinicians	“Especially the radio [radiotherapy] people they were excellent like you know.” Male, 76
	Health literacy	Understanding of health-related information	“I don’t ask questions, I don’t know enough about it anyway, you know, I just do as I’m told and that’s it.” Male, 75
	Health resources	Tools available/used by participants to manage their health and how well informed they felt during the process	“And I knew I could ask anything as well.” Female, 71