A Narrative Study on the Reconstruction of Life Meaning in Breast Cancer Patients

Yu Liang; Linqi Hu; Yanshan Zhou

doi:10.26689/par.v9i5.12156

Yu Liang School of Social and Public Administration, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang 524048, Guangdong, China
Linqi Hu School of Social and Public Administration, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang 524048, Guangdong, China
Yanshan Zhou School of Social and Public Administration, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang 524048, Guangdong, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26689/par.v9i5.12156

Keywords: Breast cancer patients, Disease narrative, Life meaning

Abstract

This study, conducted during an internship at the Tumor Hospital of S Province, employs a qualitative research paradigm. The primary research subjects were 11 hospitalized breast cancer patients, with data collected through semi-structured interviews and observation, followed by content analysis. The study aims to explore the disease experiences and life experiences of breast cancer patients, investigating what their illness means to them and whether it has led to a different understanding of the meaning of their lives. The findings reveal that the reconstruction of life meaning among breast cancer patients manifests as “new perceptions of existence, new attitudes toward life, and new life goals.”

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