@article{11ab55bb1bad4b3ca3d5dd7b58454201,
title = "Struggling to Eat to Survive Cancer — Lived Experiences of Eating Among Adolescents and Young Adults Undergoing High-Emetogenic Chemotherapy",
abstract = "Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide in-depth understanding of adolescents{\textquoteright} and young adults{\textquoteright} (AYAs{\textquoteright}) lived experiences of eating when they are at home between high-emetogenic chemotherapy sessions.Methods: The study was guided by van Manen{\textquoteright}s hermeneutic-phenomenological methodology. Eligible AYAs were 15–29 years old, diagnosed with either oncological or hematological cancer, treated with high-emetogenic chemotherapy, and Danish speaking. AYAs were recruited from three university hospital departments. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews.Results: Thirteen AYAs, aged 17–29 years, participated in the interviews via telephone or face-to-face in their homes. The essential meaning of the phenomenon of eating can be characterized by the overarching theme {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}Struggling to eat to survive{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} and unfolded through the following three themes: {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}Cooperating with a deceiving body{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}Capturing moments of eating opportunities{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright}, and {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}Being loved and cared for at home{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright}.Conclusions: Struggling to eat was essential for survival and a fundamental existential challenge that required reflection and consciousness. AYAs experienced their deceiving bodies as a major concern, which challenged their ability to eat and forced them to develop strategies to capture moments of eating opportunities. AYAs kept hold of doing {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}something{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} themselves to maintain the slightest control of their own lives and thereby assist clinical outcomes and cure. However, AYAs had to struggle with food and start viewing food as a friend, not an enemy.",
keywords = "f{\ae}nomenologi, kr{\ae}ft, kvalitativ, mad, spisning, unge, unge voksne, eating, high-emetogenic chemotherapy, lack of appetite, nausea, strategies, survival",
author = "Christensen, {Marie Ernst} and Olsen, {Pia Riis} and Anita Haahr and Rose, {Hanne Krogh} and Annelise Norlyk",
note = "M1 - 10.1089/jayao.2021.0062",
year = "2022",
doi = "10.1089/jayao.2021.0062",
language = "English",
volume = "11",
pages = "268--274",
journal = "Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology",
issn = "2156-5333",
publisher = "Mary Ann Liebert Inc.",
number = "3",
}