The Lives of Older People With Advanced Cancer Who Live Alone During Outpatient Cancer Chemotherapy: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

Nursing care for older people with advanced cancer who live alone during outpatient chemotherapy should address their difficulties while respecting their lives. However, their lived experiences remain underexplored. Therefore, we conducted a descriptive qualitative study to explore and describe their lives. The participants were purposively sampled, older patients (≥ 65 years) with advanced cancer who lived alone and were receiving outpatient cancer chemotherapy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using an interview guide, and thematic analysis was applied. There were 12 participants. Nine categories and 49 subcategories were extracted. The core category was "Getting by through endurance, ingenuity, and effort in one's increasingly fragile 'own vessel,' in order to survive a little longer and fulfill one's life." Effective support should not only address their challenges, but also respect their convictions, leverage their strengths, and enhance their self-efficacy. Further, early implementation of advance care planning (ACP) is crucial to proactively identify the needs of these patients, who rarely express their concerns. This approach facilitates their transition from full independence to autonomy, enabling them to choose and integrate necessary support into their daily lives.