PURPOSE: In Swedish cancer care, Contact Nurses (CNs), have a role to enhance the patients' opportunities for participation through improved communication and information. The aim of this study was to explore how patients describe their opportunities for participation during the first encounter with the CN, prior to starting the cancer treatment.

METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with 14 patients with cancer, planned for curative treatment, were performed. Purposeful sampling, based on estimated high or low activation level measured with PAM-13®, as well as gender and age, were used. The interviews were analysed, using a qualitative inductive approach.

RESULTS: The overarching theme "Dealing with an entirely new life situation" encompass three categories; "Establish relationships", "Gaining understanding of the illness" and "Taking part in treatment planning". The relationships with the CNs as well as the understanding of what was being planned, was considered important. Having the opportunity to communicate essential matters and the adaption of the information, was also found to be of great importance. The perceived possibilities to participate in the planning of treatment and care varied, with some patients describing the plan to be predetermined, while others had a more accommodating experience.

CONCLUSION: The result highlights the importance for CNs of establishing relationships with their patients. It also points out the importance of the patients understanding of their situation. These insights emphasize the need for CNs to prioritize empathic communication, the need to adapt information to the patient's preunderstanding and to actively involve patients in their care planning, enhancing overall patient satisfaction and outcomes.