The Experience of Men Surviving Cancer After Being Diagnosed in Young Adulthood

Abstract

This is a qualitative descriptive study using the phenomenological approach with an aim to clarify how men diagnosed with cancer in young adulthood will live out their lives thereafter. Of the six participants, this paper describes the experiences of Mr. C, from which the theme of dividing himself from just being a cancer patient into a multifaceted self was derived.

Having been diagnosed with scirrhous gastric cancer in his mid-twenties, Mr. C, during the course of ten years since the diagnosis, divided his self into activities as a cancer survivor, his work, and his family life, trying to get out of the then current situation where he would be “forever in the state of being a patient”, and was able to move toward who he wanted to be. This enabled Mr. C to become who he is now and allowed to enjoy his current life, by regarding his cancer as his partner to share the journey going forward.

It was suggested that those who interact with these survivors need to pay attention to the patients’ multifaceted self so as not to force on them, who are in pursuit of their new self, the label of cancer patient.