Abstract
To establish psychological support techniques to help cancer patients coping with their disease before and after surgery,
patients' psychological state was assessed pre- and post-surgery. The researcher directly involved in nursing care of
10 patients kept observation logs. Logs were analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. Observations
revealed that pre-surgery, patients were fearful of cancer and death, avoided thinking of the future, and rested their
hopes on surgery. After surgery, patients were hopeful of returning to their preoperative lives and focused energy on
recovery. These patients battled their cancer, yet could not see an end to their struggles because they knew there were
no guarantees. To others, patients may appear calm. However, their psychological state is complex. It is necessary
to consider patient psychological states to facilitate behavioral measures.
