Life, illness and death—Existential reflections of a Swedish sample of patients who have undergone curative treatment for breast or prostatic cancer

Abstract

The aim of this study is to describe cancer patients' existential reflections and how these reflections were met by the nursing staff. A qualitative method of data collection was used. Ten patients with breast- or prostate cancer who had completed curative treatment were interviewed. The results showed that the cancer diagnosis resulted in existential reflections in some of the patients. These reflections concerned the meaning of life, God/a higher power, health, work, relations and sexuality. Reflections on the cancer consisted in beliefs about the causes of cancer, treatment and cancer and sexuality. It could also be seen that loss of important life values, such as health and sexuality could lead to loss of meaning of life. Explicit reflections on sexuality were only made by two of the men in the study. The patients reported a need of existential support as well as obstacles for giving such support. Obstacles could be lack of time and lack of continuity, as well as lack of knowledge resulting in an inability to identify existential issues. Some of the patients had wanted existential support from nurses, while others received the support they needed from family and friends.