Exploring the lived experience and mental health impact of surgical procedures as part of cancer treatment: a community-based qualitative research study expressed through urban street art

Purpose: Surgery remains the main procedure for treating cancer and can result in profound and long-term effects that can impact psychological well-being. This study aims to explore the lived experience of people living with cancer and how surgery may have affected their mental well-being. Methods: Community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach informed the research study conducted between March–October 2023. The theory of the Suffering Human Being underpinned this study. Three phases were undertaken (1) co-production of an interview schedule in partnership between researchers and community charity (2) semi-structured interviews (3) collaborative mural design which involved working with a local artist to design and produce a mural in the local community. Thematic analysis of data was performed. Results: Individual interviews were conducted with 14 participants who had previously undergone surgery for cancer (of more than 2 years). Three main themes were identified: perceived loss of personhood and worth, endurance of suffering and becoming fearless and renewal of self, relationships and life perspective. A mural visually representing these key ideas, symbolised through the careful selection of images and design, was completed. Conclusion: Participants identified that the experience of surgery for treatment resulted in a feeling of loss of themselves. This lead to a period of ‘endurance’ in which the extent of their feelings were concealed from others yet a ‘new’ transformed self emerged from their suffering. This was artistically reflected in the developed urban mural, inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, to depict a broken but reformed vase illustrating the ‘beauty in broken things.’