• A Molassiotis, M Lowe, F Blackhall, and P Lorigan.
• School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work, University of Manchester, University Place, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. alex.molassiotis@manchester.ac.uk
• Lung Cancer. 2011 Jan 1;71(1):94-102.

UnlabelledThere is a growing awareness that symptoms frequently co-occur in 'symptom clusters' and that understanding these clusters may improve the management of unrelieved symptoms in patients. In-depth longitudinal exploration of lung cancer patients' symptom experiences is used to examine patient symptom experiences and distress across the disease trajectory of lung cancer.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with patients and their primary caregivers at four time points: at the beginning of treatment and then subsequently at three, six, and twelve months. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed in the data analysis.FindingsFindings indicate that a cluster of interacting respiratory symptoms play a central role in patients' symptom experiences within the lung cancer population. The interviews also suggest that symptoms such as cough which are under-represented in research within this population may play an important role in patients' symptom experiences.DiscussionLongitudinal qualitative investigation offers a valuable method for improving our understanding of patients' experiences of lung cancer and for identifying potential opportunities to improve patient quality of life.Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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