thanks to the new friends I have made during my PhD who have helped me through this time in my life. Atiya, Frauke, Phil, Malcolm, Sarah, Sophie & Mike, I appreciate your friendship in times of need and I hope that I will be able to repay this debt when it comes to you submitting your theses. Most of all, I need to thank Kevin for his constant support and friendship. I could not have done this without you. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the ladies and their families who have taken part in my research and who have shared such an important time in their lives with me. I dedicate this PhD thesis to them. Chapter 1: Introduction There are more than 200 types of cancer, and each has different causes, symptoms and treatments. In 2010, 324,579 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the UK (around 890 people every day), and in the same year, about 1.8 million people are living with and/or beyond a cancer diagnosis (Cancer Research UK, 2010). The following thesis focuses on one group of cancers called gynaecological cancer. This chapter will introduce some of the relevant government literature that is pertinent to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, with an extended section on the importance of patient reported outcomes. The chapter will then introduce the topic of gynaecological cancer and the different treatments that are commonly used; some of the psychological issues associated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer will be discussed. Finally, the literature surrounding stress (and subsequent coping) that is relevant to gynaecological cancer is explored, and an overview of the research questions answered within this thesis will be presented. Government policy surrounding the provision of cancer services In 2007 the Cancer Reform Strategy set a clear direction for the development of cancer services in England over the following five years (DoH, 2007). The 2007 strategy highlighted that it was essential for patients and survivors of cancer to have access to services that
thanks to the new friends I have made during my PhD who have helped me through this time in my life. Atiya, Frauke, Phil, Malcolm, Sarah, Sophie & Mike, I appreciate your friendship in times of need and I hope that I will be able to repay this debt when it comes to you submitting your theses. Most of all, I need to thank Kevin for his constant support and friendship. I could not have done this without you. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the ladies and their families who have taken part in my research and who have shared such an important time in their lives with me. I dedicate this PhD thesis to them. Chapter 1: Introduction There are more than 200 types of cancer, and each has different causes, symptoms and treatments. In 2010, 324,579 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the UK (around 890 people every day), and in the same year, about 1.8 million people are living with and/or beyond a cancer diagnosis (Cancer Research UK, 2010). The following thesis focuses on one group of cancers called gynaecological cancer. This chapter will introduce some of the relevant government literature that is pertinent to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, with an extended section on the importance of patient reported outcomes. The chapter will then introduce the topic of gynaecological cancer and the different treatments that are commonly used; some of the psychological issues associated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer will be discussed. Finally, the literature surrounding stress (and subsequent coping) that is relevant to gynaecological cancer is explored, and an overview of the research questions answered within this thesis will be presented. Government policy surrounding the provision of cancer services In 2007 the Cancer Reform Strategy set a clear direction for the development of cancer services in England over the following five years (DoH, 2007). The 2007 strategy highlighted that it was essential for patients and survivors of cancer to have access to services that
Final+Thesis+for+UDORA.docx