HOPE AND MEANING OF LIFE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF CANCER - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

HOPE AND MEANING OF LIFE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF CANCER PATIENTS Arraz, Clara Eleanor Pie, Jhon Jherodes Maseko, Bontle Southwestern University

• With cancer a very dreadful word, the word itself is a killer. How would one accept it or even deal with it when acceptance seems so slow. The rest of this paper will explore and discuss about the lived experience of a cancer patients “one whose future seem so unsure”.

PHENOMENOLOGY • Phenomenological is an approach that focuses on the inquiry of the descriptions of the experiences of the individuals. • It is also concerned with the structures of consciousness in the experiences of the individuals with a purpose to avoid quantification and generalizations, and to understand the phenomenon of the individuals’ experiences.

HOPE • According to positive psychologist Charles Richard "Rick" Snyder ,hopeful thinkers achieve more, and are physically and psychologically healthier than less hopeful people. • Hope is considered an effective coping strategy for patients with cancer, providing adaptive power to help them get through the difficult situation and achieve desired goals (Ebright & Lyon, 2002; Herth, 1987, 1989).

MEANING OF LIFE • The meaning of life is a psychological and spiritual concept that looks into the significance of life or existence in general.(Frankl,1997). • This study shows that people with hope, who solve their problems, and overcome stress and losses, tend to find their lives meaningful, and thus have high well-being. Therefore it is safe to say that finding life meaningful is a basic psychological need.

METHODOLOGY The researchers utilized a qualitative design with phenomenological approach. The features that define phenomenological design focus on individual experiences, beliefs and perceptions and text is used as a proxy for the human experience (Giorgi, 2009). Data Analysis Procedure Data were analyzed by the Colaizzi method of analysis. Formulated meaning was organized into categories and clusters of themes as described by Colaizzi. When differences existed among the investigators regarding the appropriate categories and themes, they were discussed until a consensus was reached.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

• 1.Lived Experiences of the Cancer Patients Theme One: Before Diagnosis: Something is wrong This theme are the experiences of the participants wherein there normal daily lives were disturbed by some physical changes and unusual pains. It seems like an ordinary ailing but they observed it as distressing and is really affecting them. This is like a warning to notify them that there is really something wrong with their body that when left ignored, will surely devastate them.

• Theme Two: Before Diagnosis: Caught by Surprise • This is the theme wherein the participant who thought of the symptoms as no other than ordinary turns out to be a conditioned that needs immediate attention. • They are caught by the surprise of its urgency because the cyst, the ovaries, the bulge and others are getting serious and might be cancerous. Surgical operations were done, and a biopsy test follows.

During Diagnosis: Cancer it is “ The bomb just dropped ” • This theme of the participants’ experiences is viewed as the darkest part of their experience. The bomb just dropped because the word cancer for them is synonymous with death just like bomb wherein escape is nearly impossible . • Numbness This is their experience when the participant feels like they can’t move or decide yet. Being stunned by it so they just laugh about it and the next steps were not decided yet. Denial This is the part wherein the participant shunned away the fact that they have it, by asking for second opinion, resorting for faith healers, and the reason that it’s not genetically predisposed.

Beating the time • When the diagnosis is given, they immediately submitted themselves to the treatment process. Unwanted Delays This is when participants faced situations when though they really wanted to go in the treatment circumstances made its way to delay it HOPE IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR EXPERIENCE Hope is something that keeps them going even if they know that they have cancer but they don’t let it kill the positivity they have inside. They admit that having cancer will demand losses but with that losses the hope of it that soon they might survive cancer. Hope is all the things that they do to get through it even if it involves losses during the treatment, there admittance into the treatment process is hope itself.

• SUBTHEMES OF HOPE .. - In Losses The loss of body parts is a portal of their healing. For them, though they might look ugly of the hair loss, not sexy anymore they take it in. -In Pain The treatment they went through may not be easy by they hope that after the pain they will have relief after. - In Shortage of Resources treatment will cost them a lot of money, and they still hope that though resources may run out or in shortage healing will be supplied. -Taking chances Is the part of their experience that because of their trust in the treatment that they are into and when it fails they still try to venture out into another treatment until they got the one that suits them.

Hope -In God With all the pain, losses, resources short, and all chances taken they hold on unto their faith in GOD as the source of Hope. Meaning of life in the lived experiences of cancer patients -Acceptance Finding meaning in life for cancer patients is catalyzed by acceptance, it is the acceptance of the uncertainty of the future. It is the part of their experience that they came into the process of accepting the situations they are in whether they are still in the treatment process, waiting for the lapse period, and in the waiting to be declared survivor. In finding meaning in life they in right now participants had themes are the changes in their lives ever since cancer gets into the picture. - All are in God’s Hand It is the theme that carries the participants way of finding meaning in life by seeing it as God’s will, that God has a purpose of giving this to them and whatever what happens next is all in God’s hand.

- While there is still “NOW” The emphasis of the present, time is of the essence living life while time is still running . -Closer relationships Relationships are getting closer. - Wider perspective in Life Seeing life more different than before and in a different lens. -Appreciation of little things Seeing the beauty in life that comes in small packages.

Unique Outcomes 1. - A punishment from God- For the sins they committed,so suffering is the payment. 2. Caused by supernaturals Thinking that the illness was caused by unscientific things. 3. Negative image of self Being disappointed with the physical changes and still haven’t accepted the reality 4. Sensitivity Awareness and understanding even in very small things

Implications • To the helping professionals • In psychotherapy for the terminally Ill - positive psychology • Family members • Health professionals • The patients • Future Researches

• Cancer diagnosis and treatment causes changes in patients’ personal paths of life, and in their daily activities, work, relationships, and family roles.(Kuppelomäki & Lauri, 1998) Looking unto how hope spring in a situation they are in and how they find meaning in life they are in. • Phenomenology method was followed with the conviction that this approach supports the belief that the interpretation of the narratives provided by participants in relation to diverse contexts is foundational for a comprehensive understanding of the lived experience (Lopes & Willis, 2004).

The Cancer patients are brave in giving their life meaning and hope, reach deep within themselves to find the strength, hope and courage to continue the struggle against pain and a diminishing physical health.

DEDICATION This is in memory of those who showed positivity despite the negativity. To those we interview and passed away months after. To those that until now, HOPE kept them each day. HOPE SPRINGS to those who were left behind.