More and more people around the world are being diagnosed with cancer, including children and adolescents. Usually, these are hospitalized for an extended period of time, which can lead to occupational deprivation. Due to the consequences of treatment and the very nature of the disease, many are unable to engage in occupations. Purpose: The purpose of the research work was to examine the experiences of children and adolescents who have experienced cancer. Methods: A qualitative method was used in the research. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with six individuals aged 10 to 18 years at the time of treatment for cancer diagnosis. The obtained data was analyzed with the help of qualitative content analysis. Results: Three categories emerged from the qualitative content analysis, mainly experience of diagnosis, involvement in occupations and limitations in the implementation of the occupations. There were also 11 subcategories: information of the disease, confrontation and coping with the diagnosis, emotions and thoughts, involvement in occupations in the hospital environment, involvement in occupations in the home environment, omission of occupations, precautionary measure for the implementation of occupations, self-care, productivity, leisure and support at implementation of occupations. At the time of diagnosis, cancer was dominated by negative feelings. From the analysis of the data, it was found that problems in the participants during the treatment of cancer occurred in all areas of human function: the area of self-care, productivity and leisure. Problems that arose during treatment were sought by individuals with their own strategies or with the help of medical staff strategies. No study participants received occupational therapy treatment in at the only department in Slovenia for the treatment of children and adolescents with cancer up to the age of 18. Only one participant was referred to the rehabilitation program at URI Soča, where she had occupational therapy treatment. Discussion and conclusion: All the limitations encountered in individual areas of human function can affect the involvement of occupations.
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