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Living Well With MBC > Finding Meaning

Finding Meaning

Some people say they have found positive parts of living with metastatic breast cancer. Finding benefit and meaning can provide some relief from the daily challenges of living with cancer.1

Of course, it doesn’t mean you have to downplay the hardships, but it can open up new ways of seeing things.

In fact, research in people with all types and stages of cancer shows people can benefit from their cancer experiences in many ways.2 The extent and type of benefit is unique to each person. Some of the benefits may be1,2,3:

  • Enhanced personal strength
  • Spiritual growth
  • Greater appreciation of life
  • Greater attention to health behaviors and self-care
  • More compassion for others
  • Improved relationships

Take your time to review these benefits. Think about what they mean to you. Can you relate to any of them?

  • What matters more to you or less to you than it did before your cancer?
  • What would you do now that you wouldn’t have considered doing before cancer?
  • Who have you met that you probably wouldn’t have met if you didn’t have cancer?
  • How have your relationships with others changed since living with cancer?
  • How do you spend your time since you’ve been living with cancer?
  • What do you prioritize now that you might not have prioritized before living with cancer?

REFERENCES

  1. Verywell Health. Positive changes after a diagnosis of cancer. Cancer. https://www.verywellhealth.com/cancer-patients-post-traumatic-growth-2248824. Accessed November 13, 2019.
  2. Stanton A, Rowland JH, Ganz, PA. Life after diagnosis and treatment of cancer in adulthood: contributions from psychosocial oncology research. Am Psychol. 2015;70(2):159-174.
  3. Moreno P, Stanton A. Personal growth during the experience of advanced cancer: a systematic review. Cancer J. 2013;19(5):421-430.