Early palliative care perceptions by patients with cancer and primary caregivers: metaphorical language.

Objective: This article reports on the results of an analysis of metaphorical language used by patients diagnosed with advanced cancer and their caregivers receiving early palliative care (EPC).

Methods: Data were collected through a pen-and-paper questionnaire on respondents' perceptions of the disease, its treatment and their idea of death, before and after receiving EPC. The data were analysed by identifying all metaphorical uses of language, following the 'metaphor identification procedure' proposed by the Praggjelaz Group.