“Unremarkable” Recoveries: Normalizing Adversity and Cancer Survival

Abstract

Much of the existing popular literature suggests that survival from life-threatening diseases encourages a process of self-transformation. Seventeen long-term survivors of metastatic cancer were interviewed about the impact of a life-threatening condition on their life stories. Contrary to the existing literature, which suggests such an event greatly transforms the individual, nearly all of those interviewed for this study framed their unusual recoveries as being largely unremarkable. Traditional North American cultural values, which normalize adversity, appear to bolster the participants' beliefs that one can have control over one's health and can even resist a recurrence of cancer.

Stress and Coping in African American Women With Chronic Heart Disease: A Cultural Cognitive Coping Model

“…Ongoing stressors combine to worsen heart health and cause increased distress that must be controlled by "not worrying." "Not worrying" has been reported in other studies that have examined African Americans' responses to stress and various health problems (Boutain, 2001;Holt & McClure, 2006;Killoran, Schlitz, & Lewis, 2002;Silverman, Musa, Kirsch, & Siminoff, 1999).…”

Cervical Cancer: Patterns of Long-Term Survival

“…Only a small subset of 4 women of the 19 in this study described themselves as having moved on from their cervical cancer experience. Killoran et al (2002) described this process as normalizing the adversity experienced with cancer. Their qualitative study participants downplayed the significance of the cancer event in their lives, similar to that reported by the current study's subset.…”

“…They identified intimacy as an important factor in their sexual adjustment and stressed the importance of communication between healthcare professionals and patients with partners in improving outcomes. Killoran, schlitz, and lewis (2002) studied 17 survivors of different types of metastatic cancer. Participants described the impact of a life-threatening condition on their life stories.…”

Activism among exceptional patients with cancer

“…Killoran et al [25], in another qualitative study, interviewed 17 long-term survivors of metastatic cancer and suggested that there are no real lessons to be learned from exceptional patients. Nearly all of the participants framed their unusual recovery as being largely unremarkable, without any major lessons to be learned or any recognition of having a transformational process leading to recovery (e.g., having "a wake up call").…”