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The Impact of Cancer on Family Relationships Among Chinese Patients

This study examines the impact of cancer on family relationships among members of a Chinese cancer support group. A qualitative research design was used, including participant observation of 96 participants at group meetings over an 8-month period and in-depth interviews with seven group members. Findings indicated that family members were integral to the support group, constituting almost 40% of the participants. Patients in the group expressed concerns about family, with family members identified as having “equal suffering” when caring for patients. Notably, among both patients and family members, there was a strong emphasis on the need to conceal emotion, coupled with a focus on instrumental support in caregiving. Furthermore, patients’ anxiety about “burdening” their family appeared to inflate their own experience of distress, as patients and their family carers both sought to maintain a positive front. The findings highlight the need for practitioners to focus on the entire family when designing interventions to help patients cope with cancer. More important, interventions need to be culturally sensitive that will empower patients and family members in living with the illness.