Abstract
This paper aims to describe the dynamic aspects of the experience of a woman undergoing chemotherapy for
cervical and metastatic lung cancers. Her narrative focus was “the body”. While referring to her body changing
from cancer and chemotherapy, she strived to be physically strong enough to continue treatment. She talked
about enjoying music and gave detailed depictions of her body. We described phenomenologically the body that
underpins her experience, then described analytically the relationship between her bodily experience and narrative
following Arthur Frank's narrative theory. We found she fit into more than one of Frank's four body types. At
the end of the interview, despite her narrative based on restitution and quest, she revealed ‘this was the last thing
she wanted’, so we tried to understand the story told through her body. How can we describe her illness from
this narrative and have a close understanding of her dynamic experiences? The composite method of description
provided a perspective for understanding what it’s like to live with chemotherapy today when anyone can be a
cancer survivor.
