Coping with suffering: A thematic analysis of the lifelong illness of cancer patients

Abstract

'Cancer' is a painful experience that severally affects the life of its victim and his family often forces it in a new and sometimes difficult and trying condition and always offers the opportunities for new depth, intimacy and connectedness. These obstacles may seem to be nastiest at the very first glimpse. But as one move forward develop a knack of dealing with them. The cancer experience is like living in the face of uncertainty, much like traveling along an unfamiliar road without any maps or sense of direction. This kind of journey can be overwhelming since the path is so elusive and fuel of uncertainty whether the outlook for recovery is good or poor, the days go by, one at a time and patient and the family must learn to live each day and hence move on with journey. It however, becomes a part of life to them who are unfortunate to come under its grip. In contemporary period its incidence is increasing. Its outcomes, like other disease are also mediated by dispositional and supportive factors, with this in view the present work was planned to understand the lives of cancer patient. It also focuses on belief system world view and attitude of the cancer patient which play important role in coping with it. In order to create a context for this humble effort the introductory part of this paper presents a conceptual analysis and relevant studies.TheoreticalframeworkThis research study is situated within a broadly based Psychoontological model and data is viewed through a variety of lenses including phenomenology methodology.Over the past 20 years, psycho-oncology has developed as one of the model of Oncology. This area deals with the two psychological dimension of cancer: the patient; families and medical stuffs emotional reactions to cancer and its treatment (psychosocial); and the psychological and botanical factors that influence cancer risk and survival. The dimensions dealing with the psychological, social and spiritual were neglected for many years in most countries around the world. The focus was almost on the physical aspects of illness. Psychosocial problems were hardly addressed in their case those suffering from unrecognized anxiety and depression.The word cancer was equated with death for centuries because there was no treatment for it until the surgical removal became possible after the introduction of an aesthesia of the last half the 19th century. The disease was so frightening that the diagnosis was withheld from the patient. It was considered cruel to reveal it, so only family was given the facts. This has been called the 'Conspiracy of silence' which left the patient feeling isolated and alone. The result was a false cheerfulness and deception from others that did not permit patients an opportunity to express their distress and concerns to others. Several historical factors have led to greater emphasis on psychological and social aspects of cancer. These include: the shifting of attitude away from fatalism about cancer, the mare open disclosure of the diagnosis and therefore mare open discussions with others; greater dialogue between doctor and patient; discussion about treatment options and asking for their participation in decision making; and the recognition that cancer prevention and screening depends in large measure on changing behaviors and attitudes.In recent years, research in psycho oncology has progressed to the point that it is possible to present a research model that places the various aspects into an integrated perspective. Komuith (1991) has proposed the model presented in Fig. 1. As can be seen cancer and its treatment is the independent variable, the outcome variables are survival and health related quality of life. A major advance has patient's own reports. Patient can now report their level of function in physical, psychological, social, work and several domains of their life. The mediating variables and intervention researcher seek to study these variables (demography, coping skills, beliefs and personality) that impact upon the outcome. …