Light in the Midst of Darkness: Lived Experiences of Cancer Warriors

Abstract

Employing a qualitative approach about the lived experiences of cancer warriors, this paper delved into the perceptions of pediatric cancer patients towards cancer, their coping mechanisms, changes that they experienced and their motivations and aspirations that served as their strengths for continuing their treatment. Eight informants were interviewed using the interview guide that was validated and pilot tested. Participants of the study were interviewed in different settings, such as Batangas Regional Hospital and the Clinic for the Sick Child, that cater to hematologic and oncologic pediatric cases. The results were associated with 19 themes: the darkness that lurks within, death whisperer, scourging soul, gloomy in the dusk, fierce flame,game of luck, tone of command, freezing within, cape of deception, inevitable mask, sinking ship,shattered reflection, blinded dreams, prisoners of dusk,stealing the light, going with the flow, holding onto the light, looking beyond the gloom and fuel of hope. The 19 themes correspond with 11 associated meanings: fear of death, a sense of depression and pain,sense of dynamic dependency and tolerance, sense of unchanged status in the community, sense of physical changes, a sense of physical disfigurement that lead to low self esteem and social deprivation, sense of educational importance to the youth, sense of protective isolation, cancer hindrance of dreams, deceiving acceptance and a sparkling light in the midst of darkness. The cancer warriors had been within the darkest hour of their lives because of their medical condition. Cancer had been associated to suffering and death thus, the informants are in the denial stage to provide them the opportunity to live a normal life. They hope to be cure that they cling to faith, to themselves and to their family.