Table 1.

Background characteristics of the family members in the study group and the patients

	Family members	Patients
	All (n = 17)	All (n = 17)
	n (%)	n (%)
Family members’ characteristics
Age
Mean years (range)	56 (31–77)
Up to 65 years	9 (53)
From 66 years	8 (47)
Gender
Female	13 (76)
Male	4 (24)
Own children
Small children or teenagers	6 (65)
Adult children or grandchildren	11 (35)
Living situation
Sharing household with the person with cancer	10 (59)
Separate household	7 (41)
Relationship to the person with cancer
Partner (five wives, three husbands)	8 (47)
Cohabitant	2 (12)
Grown child (four daughters, one son)	5 (29)
Other relative (one ex-partner, one uncle)	2 (12)
Education
Upper secondary and above	10 (59)
Less than upper secondary	7 (41)
Work status
Currently working	11 (65)
Retired	4 (23)
Student	1 (6)
On sick leave	1 (6)
Patients’ clinical characteristics
Age
Mean years (range)		65 (35–88)
Up to 65 years		12 (71)
From 66 years		5 (29)
Gender
Female		7 (41)
Male		10 (59)
Type of cancer
Lung		10 (59)
Pancreas		5 (29)
Stomach		2 (12)
Cancer treatment
On-going chemotherapy		17 (100)
Radiation treatment		1 (6)
Surgical therapy #		2 (12)

# One had undergone surgical therapy and one was in preparation for it.