Cycling Through Cancer: Exploring Childhood Cancer Survivors’ Experiences of Well- and Ill-Being

in Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly

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Shaunna M. BurkeUniversity of Leeds

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Jennifer BrunetUniversity of Ottawa

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Amanda WurzUniversity of Ottawa

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Christina ButlerUniversity of Leeds

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Andrea UtleyUniversity of Leeds

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2016-0011
Keywords:
pediatric oncology; physical activity; psychological health; survivorship
In Print:
Volume 34: Issue 4
Page Range:
345–361
Restricted access

The benefits of informal physical activity during recovery from childhood cancer have rarely been investigated. This study adopted a multiple case study approach to explore the impact of recreational cycling on childhood cancer survivors’ experiences of well- and ill-being. Three semistructured interviews were conducted over a 3-month period with four survivors to explore their experiences of physical, psychological, and social well- and ill-being. Within-case analysis followed by cross-case analysis identified three themes that captured their well- and ill-being experiences with recreational cycling and cancer: (a) cultivating feelings and emotions, (b) experiencing physical changes, and (c) encountering positive and negative social interactions. The results from this study show that recreational cycling may be a useful adjunct to conventional treatments for the self-management of multiple domains of well- and ill-being during recovery from childhood cancer.

Burke, Butler, and Utley are with the Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, England, United Kingdom. Brunet and Wurz are with the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Address author correspondence to Shaunna M. Burke at s.burke@leeds.ac.uk.
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