Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the "reasons for living" of terminal cancer patients on general hospital wards. Interviews were conducted with eight terminal cancer patients, and the collected data were analyzed using qualitative and inductive research methods. The patients' reasons for living were categorized in the following three ways: 1; reasons for living that were obtained from the joys and comforts of everyday life, 2; reasons for living that could not be realized without having the experience of being a cancer patient; and 3; reasons for living that were gained by being able to live one's own way in a satisfying manner. Reasons for living obtained from the joys and comforts of everyday life were central among the various reasons for living among these terminal cancer patients.
The findings of this study reveal that essential care elements in support of terminal cancer patients' reasons for living are to understand the importance of helping patients make the best of their everyday lives, to make efforts to alleviate their symptoms so that they can better manage their disease, and to help them deepen their relationships with family members and significant others.
