Experiences of Living in a Disrupted Situation as Partner to a Man With Testicular Cancer

Abstract

New knowledge has been gained about how close relatives reorient themselves and handle their life situation when facing close relatives' illness. The aim of this study was to describe and elucidate narrated experiences of living in a disrupted situation as partner to a patient with testicular cancer. A qualitative single-case design with a conversational interview using a semistructured guide with open-ended questions was implemented. A young woman whose partner had testicular cancer with metastases was interviewed. Narrative analysis of the data with focus on corporeality, spatiality, temporality, and communality revealed three themes that reflected the woman's concerns in different existential dimensions: the limitless self-care, the restricted space, and the shortness of time. The findings may facilitate caregivers' awareness of actual and potential self-care demands of both patients and significant others and can be used in developing structured strategies in helping close relatives to cope and manage as caregivers.