Tell cancer to take a hike: post traumatic growth on the trail to recovery

Abstract

Article:"My diagnosis came from a doctor I had never seen before because no one I knew was there that day to tell me. And as I was leaving the hospital, walking down the hallway with the gray carpet, looking into the offices as I passed by them, no one would look at me; it was as if they knew. I got to the lobby, ready to leave and start my life as an old lady with cancer, and the woman at the desk said to me: 'We have a survey we'd like you to complete.' I thought to myself, 'Are you kidding me?' But being the proper southern lady that I am, I did it. I couldn't help but laugh; gallows humor for sure. It was right then and there that I knew if I was going to get through this, I was going to have to make the best of it. breast cancer)

Connecting to the trail: Natural spaces as places of healing

“…Depending on trail proximity, hiking is an easily accessible activity that requires little in the way of training or resources (Fesenmaier, Goodchild, & Lieber, 1981). As immersion in natural environments has been linked to higher reports of perceived wellbeing (Capaldi, Passmore, Nisbet, Zelenski, & Dopko, 2015), this suggests that the activity of hiking, and the setting in which it takes place, can be beneficial for improving one's mental health (Mayer, Frantz, Bruehlman-Senecal, & Dolliver, 2009), especially for those with serious illnesses or injuries (Goodwin, Peco, & Ginther, 2009;Harmon, 2019). Studies have established that hiking can impart feelings of attachment to the natural environment, in large part because of the way it positively impacts the hiker's mood and feelings of satisfaction (Hull & Stewart, 1995;Kyle, Graefe, Manning, & Bacon, 2003).…”

“…When the activity of hiking is done with others who have experienced similar life hardships, it can provide great benefit (Cimprich & Ronis, 2003). While sharing the hiking experience with others affected by cancer does not eliminate the potential to speak about the negative aspects of illness and treatment, that the activity takes place outdoors and away from medicalized venues may help alleviate some of the emphasis from the illness experience to a focus on the wellness experience associated with hiking (Harmon, 2019).…”

“…Many, however, find the structure and focus of "traditional" support groups not to their liking, oftentimes because the focus is on illness and not wellness (Winefield et al, 2003). Additionally, given that many support groups are held in the same place where diagnosis and treatment occur, some survivors of cancer are averse to returning to those medicalized environments (Harmon, 2019;Johansson et al, 2014). Because of this, nontraditional forms of support, like hiking groups, can be of great value to those in treatment, or remission, from cancer (Lee et al, 2014;Song et al, 2016), as well as those no longer seeking treatment, including those in palliative care (Fegg et al, 2010).…”

“…In the context of people with cancer, those diagnosed often associate the clinical setting where they were diagnosed and treated with meanings of negativity (Harmon, 2019;Johansson, Axelsson, Berndtsson, & Brink, 2014). Beyond the emotional impact of the diagnosis, the negativity is often reinforced by other survivors' propensity to emphasize the negative aspects of life with cancer in support groups (Winefield, Coventry, Lewis, & Harvey, 2003).…”

“…For those diagnosed with cancer, immersive natural environments, such as forests with hiking trails, can provide both a place, and an activity, that is beneficial and restorative to the stressful aspects of cancer treatment and recovery (Cimprich & Ronis, 2003;Harmon, 2019). Nature and green spaces are frequently acknowledged as providing enhanced opportunities for physical activity which has been linked to other positive psychological and physiological benefits (Kaplan, 1995;Mitchell & Popham, 2008;Nutsford, Pearson, & Kingham, 2013;Östergren et al, 2012).…”