Understanding the cancer patient's search for meaning.

The period following a cancer diagnosis has been described as a time when concerns about life and death predominate. However, little is understood about how persons recently diagnosed with cancer deal with such issues as finding meaning in their lives, their illness, and their impending death. The purpose of this study is to describe what is involved in the process of the personal search for meaning conducted by the patient who has been recently diagnosed with breast, lung, or colorectal cancer. Six major themes were identified from interviews of 30 patients: seeking an understanding of the personal significance of the diagnosis; looking at the consequences of the cancer diagnosis; reviewing life; change in outlook toward self, life, others; living with the cancer; and hope. Two significant factors were found--faith and social support. With an understanding of the components in an individual's search for meaning of life, the nurse can facilitate the process by which patients explore what the cancer means for their lives.