A Survey of Older Adults’ Self-Managing Cancer

Background: Older adults living with cancer can experience significant challenges in managing their cancer treatment[s], care, and health. Cancer self-management is much discussed in the research literature, but less is known about the perceptions and experiences of older adults’, including their self-management capacities and challenges. This study explored the factors that supported and hindered cancer self-management for older Canadian adults living with cancer. Methods: We conducted a 17-item population-based telephone survey in the Canadian province of British Columbia among older adults (age ≥ 65) living with cancer. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data and thematic analysis for open-text responses. Results: 129 older adults participated in the study (median age 76, range: 65–93), of which 51% were living with at least one other chronic illness. 20% reported challenges managing their cancer treatment and appointments, while only ~4% reported financial barriers to managing cancer. We organized the findings around enabling and encumbering factors to older adults cancer self-management. The main encumbering factors to self-management included health system and personal factors (physical and emotional challenges + travel). Whereas enablers included: access to interpersonal support, helpful care team, interpersonal support and individual mindset. Conclusions: Considering factors which enable or encumber older adults’ cancer self-management is critical to supporting the growing aging population in the work required to manage cancer treatment and navigate cancer services. Our findings may guide the development of tailored resources for bolstering effectual self-management for older Canadians living with cancer.