Identity disruption, fear of progression, and avoidance in postoperative adaptation following vestibular schwannoma surgery in China: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Vestibular schwannoma is a benign intracranial tumour with a generally favourable prognosis. However, many patients continue to experience persistent postoperative symptoms, functional limitations, and long-term medical follow-up after surgery. These experiences extend beyond physical recovery and may affect patients' sense of self, social roles, and everyday life. Limited research has examined how patients experience and make sense of these changes during long-term postoperative adaptation.