Interdependence, marginalisation, and self-acceptance: lived experiences of cancer patients in rural China.

PURPOSE: This study explores the lived experiences of cancer patients in deprived areas of China, focusing on how they understand their illness, their challenges, and their coping mechanisms through the lens of the Social Ecological Model and Self-construal Theory. METHODS: A qualitative research design was employed, using semi-structured interviews and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore these patients' experiences. RESULTS: Twelve cancer patients (75% female) participated in this study. Patients were aged 27 to 59 years old, with an average of 12 months after diagnosis. The findings reveal a multi-level interplay of challenges and coping strategies. At the individual level, patients navigated profound financial burdens and identity changes, with self-acceptance emerging as a central coping mechanism. At the interpersonal level, relational interdependence exhibited a dual nature, experienced as both a significant source of burden and a powerful catalyst for empowerment. At the community and policy level, patients contended with systemic marginalisation within a strained healthcare system, exacerbated by inadequate health policies. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the need for approaches that integrate socio-cultural and economic realities to explore the lived experiences of marginalised clinical populations comprehensively.