Like a Rolling Stone

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Oncology
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• A nurse diagnosed with breast cancer shares her personal experience.
• The experience occurred within a healthcare setting utilizing the HumanBecoming paradigm for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experience of a nurse with breast cancer.
• To illustrate the application of the HumanBecoming paradigm in understanding a cancer journey.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative narrative inquiry.
• Phenomenological approach to explore lived experience.
• Utilized the HumanBecoming paradigm as a theoretical framework.

Main Results:

• The nurse experienced significant life quality shifts and uncertainties following her diagnosis.
• The HumanBecoming principles of meaning, rhythm, and transcendence were evident in her experience.
• Metaphorical expressions, such as mountains, were used to convey the complexity of the illness experience.

Conclusions:

• The HumanBecoming paradigm offers a valuable framework for understanding the complexities of living with cancer.
• Personal experiences of illness can be deeply understood through nursing theories that focus on the individual's lived reality.
• The study highlights the importance of meaning-making and adaptation in the face of cancer diagnosis.