Existential struggle in a life with incurable esophageal cancer

23^rd World Nursing and Healthcare Conference

July 10-12, 2017 Berlin, Germany

Malene Missel

Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

This study explores how patients diagnosed with incurable oesophageal cancer experience living with the illness, and provides insight into and an understanding of the patientsâ�� situation, reality and phenomena in their life world. The method takes a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach, inspired by the French philosopher Paul Ricoeurâ��s narrative theory on mimesis as the structure and process of the method, and Ricoeurâ��s theory of interpretation for the analysis of patient stories. The stories materialise from narrative interviews, and the phenomena of the patientsâ�� life world results in an analysis of these stories.Through the analysis of the narrative interviews, phenomena of the patientsâ�� life world appear which are described in themes such as debut of the illness, denial, the personâ��s own suspicion, existential turning point, despair, hope, the body, affirmation of irrevocable illness, acknowledgement of dying, life phenomena, relations and feeling of independence. The understanding of the patientsâ�� experiences is augmented and improved through a discussion of the themes in a philosophical perspective, drawing upon theoretical and philosophical viewpoints of Kierkegaard, L�¸gstrup, Merleau-Ponty, Ricoeur, Benner & Wrubel, and on empirical research. Based on the phenomena in the ill personâ��s life world brought about by analysis, it seems that incurably ill oesophageal cancer patients find themselves in a complex life situation, in which they need more than an objective estimate and fulfilment of need from hospital service. Our study illustrates some perspectives on the life situation of the incurably ill, which will contribute to the improved development of supportive care in nursing.

Biography :

Malene Missel has a Master in Nursing and has completed her PhD in March 2016 from faculty of health and medical sciences, Copenhagen University Denmark. She is working as a clinical nurse specialist at the department of thoracic surgery in the palliative care of patients with esophageal cancer.