coping with cancer: a discourse and thematic analysis of adolescents’ metaphor preferences

The literature on the topic of cancer metaphors in health communication is substantial. however, there is surprisingly little research on how metaphors are used by and influence young patients. this study examines how adolescent cancer patients use metaphors to describe cancer, and discusses this usage as it relates to coping strategies compared to healthy adolescents. data was based on eight recorded semi-structured interviews about cancer metaphors from the metaphor menu for people with cancer, which were analyzed using thematic and discourse analysis. findings show that adolescent patients and nonpatients most frequently chose the new value metaphor and used problem-focused coping strategies. the results improve our understanding of how adolescents perceive and experience cancer, and provide a revealing perspective on their emotional wellbeing and social interactions.