Tell me why. Tell me more. (Absent) educational messages as memorable messages in the cancer trajectory

Background: Certain educational messages received in the cancer trajectory can be remembered for a long time and significantly impact patient’s behavior, thus becoming memorable messages. Aims: To identify, reconstruct, and analyze the absent or present educational messages considered memorable by breast cancer patients. Methods and procedures: Qualitative research was conducted using in-depth interviews and lifelines. Data was collected in Poland and Croatia. Purposive sampling was used. Participants included 24 breast cancer patients undergoing treatment. The gathered data was analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis, supported by MAXQDA software. Results: Breast cancer patients receive indisputable, contradictory, or well-intention yet harmful and oppressive educational messages which become memorable. These take the form of advice, recommendations, warnings, tips, and stories. Sources include medical staff, other patients and their relatives, and the media. Patients primarily expect these messages from doctors, whom they perceive as medical authorities and the main source of reliable knowledge. Furthermore, patients identify missing yet expected educational messages that also become memorable due to their absence. The demand for educational messages, as well as their sources and content, shifts throughout the cancer trajectory. Conclusion: These results enrich the study of memorable messages by enhancing the understanding of the role of educational communication in informational support for cancer patients.