David M. Gregory, PhD, RN 1
Cynthia K. Russell, PhD, RN, CS2
Abstract Each of us will be touched by cancer
in the course of our lifetime -- as a person diagnosed with the disease or as a
family member or friend who must witness its course in someone we love. For all
of us, this encounter with cancer will entail an exploration of the margins of
life and death. Too often, especially once the curative stage is passed,
patients and their loved ones make this journey in silence and without the full
support of a medical system whose chief mandate is to win the battle against
cancer.
In "Cancer Stories" five people share their journeys, their stories,
and the suffering they faced before their deaths. These narratives chronicle the
despair, hope, and love they experienced while living and dying with cancer,
giving the power of the human spirit full voice. Lessons learned are presented
as "gifts" at the conclusion of each of the five narratives.
This book is for people living with the disease and their caregivers. Nurses and
physicians, students in any health-related discipline, as well as persons
engaged in qualitative research will find this an invaluable resource. The
importance of incorporating qualitative, research-based approaches in caring for
the dying emerge from the narratives. "Cancer
Stories" points towards a more holistic research/treatment agenda, one that
bridges the medical and social science.
Source Published for Carleton University Press by McGill-Queen's University Press, Montreal, Canada, 1999.
Author Affiliation
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