Table 2.
Major Themes and Associated Codes
| Thematic Construct | Category | Prominent Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Cancer as Threat/Disruption | Physical Impact | Concerns: Body Changes/Procedures/Diet |
| Definition of Living Well: Live Without Pain/Suffering | ||
| Treatment | Concerns: Treatment Effects | |
| Concerns: Treatment not Working | ||
| Disease Trajectory & Death | Concerns: Uncertainty of Disease Trajectory | |
| Hopes: More Time/Live Longer | ||
| Character | Functional Independence | Concerns: Burden to Others |
| Personhood: Preferences for Independence | ||
| Maintaining Identity & Autonomy | Sources of Strength: Control | |
| Sources of Strength: Myself/Caring for Self | ||
| End-of-Life Preferences/ Preferences in a Crisis | End-of-Life Preferences: Depends on Health | |
| End-of-Life Preferences: Dying with Dignity | ||
| Communication | Communication with Loved Ones | Concerns: For Family/Others |
| Discussion with Family | ||
| Communication with Medical Team | Personhood: Communication/Info. Preferences | |
| Sources of Strength: Possibility of Cure | ||
| Connection | Connection to Loved Ones | Sources Strength: Family |
| “Can’t Live Without It”: Social/Emotional | ||
| Connection to Medical Team | Sources of Strength: Medical Team | |
| Personhood: Relationship to Medical Team | ||
| Sources of Meaning and Fulfillment | Maintain Normalcy | Definition of Living Well: Maintain Normalcy |
| Definition of Living Well: Ability to Work | ||
| Meaning & Fulfillment | Definition of Living Well: Enjoying the Present/Living in the Moment | |
| Hopes: Volunteer/Help Others Like Them |