From nurse to service user: a personal cancer narrative

This article presents a snapshot of my experience of being a nurse who became a service user with breast cancer. It begins by outlining the Humanization of Healthcare Framework ( Todres et al, 2009 ), which is a values-based context that can be used to underpin daily care. Generic applications for each of the dimensions of the framework are suggested. This framework is then used to contextualise my experience of receiving my diagnosis and the ensuing chemotherapy. Using examples from my personal narrative, I make some recommendations for 'small actions' that can contribute to more humanised and person-centred care. I also hope that this narrative prompts reflection by the reader and so improves the quality of care given to others.