Building Stories of Resilience in the Face of Childhood Cancer: Exploring the experiences of childhood cancer survivors
Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: This qualitative study addressed the personal stories, characteristics, influences, and factors which assisted childhood survivors of cancer to be resilient and thrive. Six childhood cancer survivors told stories of coping with the hardships of a cancer diagnosis and eight common themes uniquely experienced by each survivor were revealed. Results of this study indicated that professionals should address a cancer diagnosis as a family diagnosis, constantly facilitating communication within the family system. Health promotion should also be a common professional practice, supporting the individual in self-advocacy. Professionals should also support survivors in the process of making meaning out of his/her cancer experience and accepting the survivor identity. Finally, this study found that professional collaboration utilizing aspects of narrative therapy is an ideal vehicle towards supporting survivors in building stories of resilience.
Author: Gabrielle LeMarier
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1502977951