Managing cancer: The role of holiday taking

Abstract

Background: The primary objective of this paper is to consider whether holiday taking may have a role to play postdiagnosis/treatment, within the rehabilitation process for cancer patients. Method: A qualitative study was undertaken. Informants consisted of cancer patients (n = 24), their family members (n = 13) and friends (n = 2), consultants (n = 2) pediatric oncology nurses (n = 2), social workers (n = 2), a voluntary services coordinator (n = 1), and a play specialist (n = 1). All were accessed through four facilitators at Christie Hospital, National Health Service Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom. Data were collected via interviews, telephone discussions, letters, personal accounts, and health diaries between January 2000 and March 2001. Questions were asked regarding the perceived effects of travel during serious illness, travel propensity, and factors inhibiting full participation. Results: Benefits to health and well being, particularly of a sociopsychological nature, were identified. Such benefits impacted upon personal health, social effectiveness, personal identity, self-image, independence, future career prospects, and personal behavior. Factors inhibiting travel included the side effects of treatment, other peoples' reactions to the visible signs of cancer (e.g., hair loss, surgical scars), inflated insurance costs, a lack of holiday information sources, and communication issues (e.g., language barriers). Conclusions: Holiday taking offers a vehicle for transcending illness, even if only for a short period of time. Travel offered a range of therapeutic opportunities as well as providing a necessary means of escapism. Promoting travel as part of the rehabilitation process may well generate more intrinsic benefits than are currently appreciated. Such benefits may also be of broader application to patients facing other similarly complex illnesses.