ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the lived experiences of cancer patients diagnosed with Long COVID-19 at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Design: A qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was conducted to capture the subjective experiences of cancer patients affected by Long COVID-19. Setting: Cancer Diseases Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. Participants: Fourteen cancer patients with Long COVID-19 were purposively selected using data saturation as the guiding principle. Methods: Data were collected through in-depth, face-to-face interviews using Vivo, a mobile data collection tool and analyzed using thematic analysis. Emergent themes reflected key domains of patient experience. Results: Four major themes emerged from the data: disruption of cancer treatment, psychological distress, healthcare access challenges, and coping mechanisms. Participants reported significant interruptions in chemotherapy and radiotherapy services due to Long COVID-19, which led to delays in treatment schedules and heightened concerns about disease progression. Psychological distress was common, with many individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, and a pervasive fear that their cancer might worsen. Healthcare access was further compromised by financial constraints, systemic inefficiencies, and limited availability of critical resources. Despite these challenges, participants adopted various coping mechanisms, including reliance on spirituality, support from family and peers, and inner resilience, to navigate the complexities of their dual health conditions. Conclusion: Long COVID-19 significantly exacerbated the clinical and psychosocial burden of cancer patients in Zambia, revealing gaps in service continuity and mental health support. An integrated care model addressing both oncologic and pandemic-related challenges is crucial to improving outcomes for this vulnerable population.