{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T12:55:48Z","timestamp":1792068948702,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,5]],"date-time":"2026-05-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1777939200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Group","award":["003-2022"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["003-2022"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Current Oncology"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Anal cancer is a rare and under-researched malignancy, leading to limited understanding of patients\u2019 experiences and potentially insufficiently tailored care. This study explored the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and healthcare interactions of people with anal cancer. Patients with confirmed diagnosis took part in semi-structured interviews, supplemented by two European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) HRQoL questionnaires. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and organized into themes. Twenty-one patients (71% female; mean age of 62 years) from five countries were included. HRQoL challenges were identified across four phases: illness onset, diagnosis, treatment, and life beyond treatment. Key themes included misdiagnosis, not being taken seriously, and emotional and social disruptions. Additional themes involved stigma, embarrassment, strain on loved ones, and healthcare experiences. Defecation problems were especially burdensome, beginning at onset, intensifying during treatment, and persisting as a chronic issue affecting well-being. Patients described coping strategies and sometimes reframed their experiences positively, expressing gratitude for support received. Questionnaire findings aligned with patients\u2019 reports of prominent physical symptoms. Anal cancer remains highly stigmatized, creating complex physical, emotional, and social challenges. Individualized care and extended psychosocial and practical support beyond treatment are essential to improve HRQoL and dignity in survivorship.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/curroncol33050266","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,5]],"date-time":"2026-05-05T07:57:29Z","timestamp":1777967849000},"page":"266","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Quality of Life and Healthcare Experiences of Patients with Anal Cancer: A Mixed-Methods Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"33","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1797-6486","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andreia F.","family":"Moura","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Quality of Life Department, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Headquarters, 1200 Brussels, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1821-3760","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Catarina S.","family":"Padilla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-1711-1604","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Samuel M.","family":"Vorbach","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2556-4553","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emily I.","family":"Holthuis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Baukelien","family":"van Triest","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiation Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cristiane D.","family":"Bergerot","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Supportive Care, Oncoclinicas&Co\u2014Medica Scientia Innovation Research (MEDSIR), Sao Paulo 13571-410, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0659-6848","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vassilios","family":"Vassiliou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiation Oncology, Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre, Nicosia 2006, Cyprus"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emir","family":"Celik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul 34396, Turkey"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5851-0239","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"K\u00fcbra","family":"Akkaya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Oncology, Prof. Dr. Cemil Ta\u015fc\u0131o\u011flu City Hospital, Istanbul 34000, Turkey"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7584-3868","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Irfan","family":"Cicin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul 34396, Turkey"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7549-3338","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Winette T. A.","family":"van der Graaf","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1387-8686","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Olga","family":"Husson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands"},{"name":"Department of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8755-146X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Samantha C.","family":"Sodergren","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southamptom SO17 1BJ, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Cancer Research UK (2025, December 05). 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