A Qualitative Study to Assess the Lived Experience of Cancer Patients and their Family Members in a View to Develop a Palliative Care Guideline for the Nursing Personnel at Selected Hospitals in Bangalore

Alleviating the problems faced by patients in their advanced stages of cancer and their families has drawn substantial public attention, but little is known about the experience of these people. A phenomenological approach using descriptive analysis was utilized among 12 cancer patients and their family members to explore the human experience of the phenomena under scrutiny. The 10 themes identified for the cancer patients were: all change, feeling of helplessness and hopelessness, uncertainty, wishing to fulfill their role, accepting loss of control, feeling of becoming a burden, fear of death and loss, desire to live, wish to be with dear ones, developing trust in god's plan. The essence of the phenomenon, experience of living with cancer, was to regain a control over the existential changes i.e. the situation and one's own body. The 6 themes identified for the family members of the cancer patients were questioning god, living with fears and uncertainty, issues related to happiness, feeling of added responsibility, ensuring best possible treatment and care and confronting negative feelings. These six themes gave a structure presenting the essence: balancing a changed life situation in fear and uncertainty.