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Self-identity After Cancer: “Survivor”, “Victim”, “Patient”, and “Person with Cancer”

Journal of General Internal Medicine volume 24, Article number: 430 (2009) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Living through cancer often involves developing new identities which may strongly influence well-being and relationships with care providers, yet little is currently known about these post-cancer identities.

Objectives

To examine (1) the extent to which four post-cancer identities (patient, person who has had cancer, victim, and survivor) are adopted, (2) relations between each identity and involvement in cancer-related activities and mental and physical well-being, and (3) correlates of these identities.

Design

Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.

Participants

168 young to middle-aged adults who had previously experienced cancer.

Measurements

Cancer identifications, background variables, psychological functioning, cancer risk appraisals and coping, cancer-related activities, and mental and physical well-being.

Results

At least somewhat, 83% endorsed survivor identity, 81% identity of “person who has had cancer”, 58% “patient”, and 18% “victim”. Identities were minimally correlated with one another and differentially associated with involvement in cancer-related activities. Survivor and person who has had cancer identities correlated with involvement in most cancer-related activities such as wearing cancer-related items and talking about prevention (ps <  0.5). Survivor identity correlated with better psychological well-being and post-traumatic growth, victim identity with poorer well-being (ps <  0.5); neither identifying as a patient nor a person with cancer was related to well-being. Through regression analyses, identities were shown to be explained by unique combination of background, functioning, appraisal and coping variables.

Conclusions

Survivor identity appears most common and most associated with active involvement and better psychological well-being, but other identifications are also common and simultaneously held. Adoption of specific cancer identities is likely to impact interactions with health care providers, including those in general internal medicine, and health behavior changes.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a Scientific Research Grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation to the first author. We are indebted to Dr. Andrew Salner and the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center at Hartford Hospital for their help in conducting the study, and to the survivors who were willing to share their experiences with us.

Conflict of Interest

None disclosed.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Crystal L. Park PhD

  2. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    Ianita Zlateva MPH

  3. Connecticut Association of Directors of Health, Inc., Hartford, CT, USA

    Thomas O. Blank PhD

Authors
  1. Crystal L. Park PhD
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  2. Ianita Zlateva MPH
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  3. Thomas O. Blank PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Crystal L. Park PhD.

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Park, C.L., Zlateva, I. & Blank, T.O. Self-identity After Cancer: “Survivor”, “Victim”, “Patient”, and “Person with Cancer”. J GEN INTERN MED 24, 430 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-0993-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-0993-x

KEY WORDS

  • cancer
  • survivorship
  • identification
  • well-being
  • post-traumatic growth