Table 1.

Description of coding, identification of major and minor focus group themes.

Coding Category	Major	Minor
We don’t talk about it	Stoic behavior Hides cancer symptoms Expected to bear things like pain Denial	Don’t bring burden home Speaking about it gives it more power or brings on cancer Talking about cancer is like talking about death Disrespectful to talk about cancer
Respect for healthcare providers	Silence is sign of respect in patient-provider communication Incomplete communication—not disclosing level of pain Fear of addiction to pain medications Minimizing confrontation	Do not shame provider by correcting errors or asking too many questions Not wanting to be a burden to providers Not always in pain Does not want to be a complainer
Culturally prohibitive topic	Cannot talk about death Fear of the unknown Cancer diagnosis is a death sentence	The deceased may come back Passively accepts diagnosis No survival from cancer