Understanding of illness, information needs and psychological distress of patients with cancer of unknown primary

Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) refers to a diagnosis of metastatic cancer, where the primary tumour cannot be identified despite multiple investigations. People diagnosed with CUP experience significant psychological distress, insufficient understanding of their illness and have higher requirements for psycho-social care as compared to other metastatic cancers patients. This project yielded meaningful insight on understanding the needs of CUP patients regarding information about their disease, treatment options and genomic testing; elucidated factors and pathways that underpin poor understanding of cancer and high psychological distress among CUP patients. This research has contributed to improving patient outcomes and experiences.