Conquering and coping with the "Big C" : a phenomenological study of exceptional cancer survivorship

A study of the healing journeys of cancer survivors. The research questions were: "Do cancer survivors have anything in common?" "Is there such a phenomenon as cancer survivorship?" Ten exceptional survivors were interviewed in depth and their stories were analysed for themes. These themes were Overcoming issues of commitment, challenge, control, caring and confidence. The thesis also explores the issues of obstacles to survivorship. These were couses, costs and controversies. The conclusion is that healing journeys will never be prescriptive but that they will always be possible.