Narratives of Cancer Recovery Pre and Post COVID: A Mixed Methods Comparative Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant reductions in access to cancer care services across Canada, including delayed diagnoses, surgeries, and treatments, creating a backlog that continues to impact care. It is well established that leaving treatment and moving into the recovery phase of cancer is often particularly distressing for many people as they deal with fears about cancer returning, changes in identity, and the loss of access to the care and attention of their healthcare team. The proposed study will be the first of its kind to compare narratives from cancer survivors collected at the end treatment both before the pandemic began (fall 2019) and three years following (fall 2023). This information will be collected through short narrative care interviews, designed to provide a supportive way for cancer survivors to process the experience of recovery and find ways to effectively move forward in life. The narratives, as well as data collected through questionnaires assessing mood and well-being, will then be examined for emerging patterns and differences between the before-COVID and during-COVID time periods. Understanding the specific impact that reductions in access to timely diagnosis, treatment, and support have had on cancer survivors will generate new knowledge surrounding the complex needs arising in this medical population, as well as guide the development of future interventions for individuals struggling at the end of treatment. This knowledge can further inform health care providers and cancer care organizations on how to best support Canadians recovering from cancer during this uniquely challenging time in our collective history.