A Case Study Exploring the Psychological Role of Sport for a Cancer Patient

This research study retrospectively examined an athlete’s experience of continuing sport and physical activity during treatment and recovery from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Explorations into the historical and current research delivered an in-depth understanding of the perspectives on the advantages and potential difficulties of continuing sport and physical activity after receiving a cancer diagnosis. The central role of sport contributing to physical and psychological recovery was examined. Adopting an interpretivist paradigm, a qualitative approach was implemented through a series of semi-structured interviews with the athlete and two members of their family. Thematic analysis revealed previous participation in sport through proceeding years was beneficial in utilising mental toughness and psychological coping during adversity. The results indicate the importance of both understanding and considering the patient’s self-efficacy and the perspectives of sport and physical activity within an oncology setting. Further exploration of this topic should include undertaking focus groups which include family members and significant others. This case study would be strengthened by the use of structural and thematic analysis combined.