THE MEANING-MAKING EXPERIENCES OF CANCER SURVIVORS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

This study examined the subjective experience of individuals who experienced meaning-making in their adjustment to cancer. It contributes insights on their process of meaning-making as well as factors that are involved in this process. Interviews were conducted to elicit the personal narratives of 15 Chinese, Malay and Indian cancer survivors (CS) from Singapore. It was found that the meaning-making process involved 1) Overturning of previously held assumptions about life and self, 2) Making sense of cancer and its implication for one’s life, and 3) Integrating and moving beyond the experience of cancer. For most CS who had their assumptions overturned, there was a need to rebuild their assumptive world to re-establish meaning in their lives after facing cancer. For the few CS with their assumptions intact, they were involved in reaffirming or discovering meanings. Ending the thesis will be a discussion on key implications for theory, research and practice.