Life after cancer treatment – existential experiences of longing

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The study aimed to gain insight into existential longing as experienced by people treated for cancer.

Method: An exploratory phenomenological–hermeneutical design was used, and data were collected through in-depth interviews with 21 people recruited from a cancer organization.

Results: Three themes emerged: longing to be oneself, longing for relief from suffering, and longing for rootedness. The theoretical understanding of well-being developed by Todres and Galvin was used to illuminate how the life-fulfilling power of longing is inherent in dwelling–mobility.

Conclusions: During the theoretical interpretation and discussion of these findings, a new analytic step revealed a state of uncertainty that can influence longing. The findings of this study may help fill the gap in the current health-care approach to cancer survivors by highlighting the importance of a new professional perspective of listening to patients describe their existential burden. Such an approach may create greater clarity and thereby allow longing to flow more freely towards future possibilities and well-being.

KEYWORDS:

• Cancer survivor
• existential experience
• phenomenological hermeneutics
• longing
• uncertainty
• lived experience
• lifeworld

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Cancer Association for help in recruiting participants to the study and facilitating the interviews.

Contributions

VU, BF, ED, and KR planned the study design; VU was responsible for drafting the manuscript; all authors contributed to the writing process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research has received funding from Folke Hermansen fond, http://www.folke-fondet.org/.

Notes on contributors

Venke Ueland

Venke Ueland is a PhD from Department of Caring Science Åbo Akademi University, Vasa/Associated Professor at Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Norway. Her research topics include life phenomenon longing, existential experiences related to both obesity and cancer treatment care.

Kristine Rørtveit

Kristine Rørtveit is a PhD in Leadership from University of Stavanger/Associate Professor in the University of Stavanger/Clinical Specialist in Mental Health Nursing at Stavanger University Hospital. Her research topics include eating difficulties and existential experiences related to obesity.

Elin Dysvik

Elin Dysvik is Professor Emerita in Nursing Science at University of Stavanger, Norway. She is a clinical specialist in anaesthetic nursing and operating room nursing. Her research topics include chronic pain management, quality of life, cognitive therapy, therapeutic writing, and existential experiences related to both obesity and cancer treatment care.

Bodil Furnes

Bodil Furnes is Professor in Nursing Science at University of Stavanger, Norway. Her research topics include therapeutic writing in bereavement care, therapeutic writing in pain management, existential experiences related to both obesity and cancer treatment care.