Abstract:
Cancer is the leading cause of death in New Zealand and a diagnosis of cancer is often perceived as a death sentence. Minimal research has been undertaken to gain an understanding of issues facing the increasing numbers of long-term survivors who have lived beyond cancer. The purpose of this study was to unearth the core concerns of survivors and explore the fit between survival experiences and Yalom’s (1980) four categories of existential awareness: namely, death, self-responsibility, meaning, and aloneness. The participants were a convenience sample of New Zealand men and women (n=34) who lived for more than five years beyond a cancer diagnosis. The analysis of data was undertaken in two distinct phases. The first analysis determined whether existentialism mapped onto the narratives of survival, using a theory-driven thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. Using an inductive approach, the second analysis was aimed at uncovering any emergent themes of survival that transcended the tenets of existentialism. Study outcomes showed that the existential concepts of death, freedom, and meaninglessness were well-represented in the narratives. Existential isolation was implicit in the narratives. In addition to these existential concepts, social influences, spirituality, and personal growth were salient to survivors. The existential paradigm may be a valuable model for understanding the profound human experience of surviving cancer. Existentialism may be a useful theoretical framework for developing therapeutic interventions to promote optimal adaptation to living beyond cancer, and such interventions may incorporate social systems and spirituality to facilitate personal growth.