Life After a Breast, Prostate or Colorectal Cancer: The Experience of Swiss Survivors

Background: As cancer survival rates improve, understanding the challenges faced by survivors becomes essential. Objective: This study aimed to explore the post-treatment experiences of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors in Switzerland. Methods: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 19 cancer survivors (9 breast, 5 prostate, and 5 colorectal) who were 2–5 years postprimary treatment. Participants were excluded if they had stage IV cancer, were receiving palliative care, had other serious illnesses, or experienced cancer recurrence. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: We derived 3 themes: the psychological process of dealing with illness, the relational and social experience, and the perception of the physical consequences of treatment and their impact on the body. Survivors faced ongoing challenges, including fear of recurrence, changes in relationships, social discrimination, and treatment side effects affecting daily life and intimacy. Experiences of Swiss survivors were largely similar to those reported in other countries, even with contextual differences. Conclusions: Cancer survivors in Switzerland face multifaceted challenges posttreatment, impacting their psychological well-being, social relationships, and physical functioning. While individual experiences vary, several survivors reported enduring suffering that affected their quality of life. Implications for Practice: Adaptation strategies, including acceptance and adopting new life philosophies, were identified as important coping mechanisms. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive survivorship care addressing the diverse needs of cancer survivors. What is Foundational: Our findings suggest that some survivors' post-treatment experiences could be characterized as liminal. This insight may be valuable in developing a predictive model to identify these individuals, allowing for proactive interventions.