Experiences of receiving explanations about medical conditions among adolescent children with cancer: A qualitative study

Background Although international consensus has been reached on the implementation of open communication for children with cancer, few studies have captured the reality of their experiences of receiving explanations of their medical conditions. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of patients diagnosed with cancer during adolescence in terms of receiving explanations of their medical conditions from health-care professionals and parents, and to identify the trajectory of how adolescent children with cancer approach their treatment after receiving explanations. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted on 18 childhood cancer survivors who completed treatment between May 2024 and June 2025. The inclusion criteria included having been diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 11 and 18 years and having received an explanation of their condition. The grounded theory approach was used for the data analysis, which included a verbatim record and theoretical notes. Results Five categories were identified as Experiences of receiving explanations about medical conditions among adolescent children with cancer: "Receiving explanations of my medical condition", "Mixed feelings", "Concerns during hospitalization", "I've got cancer", and "The power to overcome treatment". Conclusions The present findings suggest the need to provide psychological support during the process of explaining medical conditions to children. Furthermore, the concerns of children need to be captured in daily interactions, and practices that help them become aware of their disease and complete their treatment need to be developed.