title: Identity loss and maintenance: commonality of experience in cancer and dementia.
abstract: This paper examines parallel thematic findings from two qualitative studies exploring the experience of disease as it relates to cancer and dementia. The original studies examined the experiences of 16 individuals with cancer and 20 with dementia, and the impact of these first hand experiences and those of their principal family carers. The paper presents findings linked to the common or shared concepts of identity loss and maintenance as expressed by both the affected individual and the family carer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. b.a.gillies@dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gillies
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012649:Self Concept