“Even if I Don’t Remember, I Feel Better”. A Qualitative Study of Patients with Early-Stage Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy or Surgery

Rationale: While surgical resection is recommended for most patients with early stage lung cancer according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, stereotactic body radiotherapy is increasingly being used. Provider–patient communication regarding the risks and benefits of each approach may be a modifiable factor leading to improved patient-centered outcomes.Objectives: To qualitatively describe the experiences of patients undergoing either surgery or stereotactic body radiotherapy for early stage non–small cell lung cancer.Methods: We qualitatively evaluated and used content analysis to describe the experiences of 13 patients with early clinical stage non–small cell lung cancer before undergoing treatment in three health care systems in the Pacific Northwest, with a focus on knowledge obtained, communication, and feelings of distress.Measurements and Main Results: Although most participants reported rarely having been told about other options for treatment and could not readily recall ma...