| Summary: | Background: Allogeneic Haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is a potentially curative treatment for haematological cancers however it is a particularly aggressive treatment that can impact individuals’ quality of life (QOL) in multiple ways. Due to the toxicity of the transplant, adults aged over fifty years have only recently become eligible for this treatment following the development of a reduced intensity regimen. As a result, little is known regarding the experience of QOL among recipients aged over fifty years. QOL information is an essential part of assessing the success of medical treatments and can help prepare recipients for any ways in which their lives and those of their families may be impacted post-transplant. Method Potential participants were recruited through the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre (BWSCC) and a purposive sample of eight participants volunteered to take part in the study. A qualitative approach, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to explore the experience of QOL among recipients. Results Four superordinate themes emerged from the data; ‘Shifting sense of self and others’, ‘Adaptation and managing the impact’, ‘A new perspective on life and living’, and ‘Changing over time’. The findings helped highlight the challenges and gains experienced by HSCT recipients as well as the process of adaptation and adjustment which mediates the impact of HSCT on QOL. Conclusions The participants in this study demonstrated that there are a number of commonalities between younger and older recipients in terms of post transplant QOL when compared to the literature on younger recipients to date. However, increased age and stage of life was also shown to have a unique impact on the subjective experience of QOL after transplant. Increased age continues to represent a significant risk factor in terms of QOL and survival post transplant. However, the findings from this study suggest that this small sample of recipients is adjusting well to the challenges of HSCT. Further research is required in this area. Limitations of this study are discussed.
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