title: Perceptions of Distress in Women with Ovarian Cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore women's experience of distress by asking "What do women with ovarian cancer want their spouse or significant other, family, friends, and healthcare providers to know about their experience of distress during diagnosis and treatment?"
  
  
  METHODS
  Modified Glaserian grounded theory.
  
  
  METHODS
  An urban setting in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  12 women, aged 21-71 years, diagnosed with and treated for ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Constant comparative analysis of data obtained by audio recorded interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although individual experiences differed, abstraction and conceptualization of the data supported a theory of existential assault. Participants found that the diagnosis was shocking and came "out of the blue like lightning." Their responses included seeking the best physician and treatment available, described as "no stone left unturned." Information about the disease was welcomed and unwelcomed as they shared the experience of "knowing what I don't want to know and not knowing what I want to know," and then had the added experience of sharing that information with those in their social network. Interpersonal interactions were described as "watching you watching me--we are both afraid," and "talking yet not talking about death," resulting in relationship changes and the realization that "now I have to take care of me."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants experienced diagnosis with and treatment for ovarian cancer as an existential assault that, with the potential for an early death, affected the individual and her relationships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Previous studies have suggested that women diagnosed with and treated for ovarian cancer experience distress. This study reports women's perceptions of their own distress.
authors.affiliation: Bon Secours Richmond Health System in Virginia.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DellaRipa
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conlon
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult and Elderly Nursing at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
authors.forename: Debra E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Health Nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.
authors.forename: Suzanne A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ameringer
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult and Elderly Nursing at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lynch Kelly
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Menzies
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005086:Existentialism; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D066296:Grounded Theory; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014505:Urban Population; D014768:Virginia; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: distress; grounded theory; ovarian cancer; perceptions