A qualitative study of patients with Cancer of Unknown Primary: Perceptions of communication, understanding of diagnosis and genomic testing, and information needs

Abstract

Objective: Patients with Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) commonly report poor understanding of their illness and high levels of psychological distress. Despite the potential benefits to CUP patients, there is a paucity of research exploring the reasons behind poor understanding of a CUP diagnosis. The aim of this study was to understand patients' experiences of communication with doctors, their understanding of diagnosis and the role of genomic testing, as well as their information needs. Methods: Semi-structured interviews explored CUP patients' perceptions of communication with their doctors, understanding of their illness, and their needs regarding medical information. Qualitative inductive thematic analysis of transcribed audio-recordings was employed. Setting/Participants: Nineteen patients were recruited from within a prospective cohort study involving routine genomic testing of CUP patients. Results: CUP patients had varied perceptions of communication with doctors as well as different levels of need, readiness, and capacity for information. Some patients felt well understood and supported by their doctors while others did not. Many patients reported feeling overwhelmed and shocked when receiving their cancer diagnosis and emphasized the importance of family support in receiving and understanding medical information. While patients understood the implications of genomic testing for treatment and diagnosis, few had a detailed understanding of genomic testing. Conclusions: Patients' experience of communication and understanding of CUP could be potentially improved by clinicians' assessment of the communication style preferred by each patient and their family and the development of online resources to meet their evolving information needs.