がんの再発を生きるということ

Experiences of Patients Living Through Cancer Recurrence

要　旨

　目的：本研究では，がん患者が再発がんを生きる経験について，経験者の視点から探求することを目的とした．

　方法：現象学的アプローチを用いた質的記述的研究である．一般病院の外科で加療中の，再発がんを患う患者に，非構造化面接法を実施し，村上の方法を参考に分析を行った．また，分析を進める視点のとり方として，人間存在の在り方を基礎づけたHeideggerの理論を基盤においた．

　結果：死は〈もしも〉と仮定されるが，まったくの仮想ではなく，具体として現れた．しかし，参加者は，時間を〈少しずつ〉進め，生きる手ごたえを確かなものにしていた．そして，自分自身をがん患者としてひと括りにするのではなく，個を重みづけする〈それぞれ〉性を問いながら，他者のために役立つ〈この手〉が届く距離に在ることが励みになっていた．

　結論：再発がんを患う患者は，死を仮定しながら，少しずつ時間を進め，自己を活そうとする経験をしており，個別の物語を紡ぎ始めていた．

　Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of individuals with recurrent cancer.

　Methods: This qualitative descriptive study used a phenomenological approach. Unstructured interviews were conducted with three patients who had recurrent cancer and were receiving medical care in the department of surgery of a general hospital. Analysis of the interview data was based on Murakami's method and informed by Heideggerian philosophy.

　Results: The participants in this study often spoke of death as an “if,” but they felt it was not merely hypothetical but a reality. They attempted to move time forward “little by little” to ensure they lived in a way that felt tangible. In addition, instead of viewing and generalizing themselves as patients with cancer, they switched to their own mode of living and were motivated by maintaining a close distance where they could help others with their “own hand.”

　Conclusion: While treating death as an “if” and approaching the future little by little, the patients with recurrent cancer in this study moved closer to others, had experiences where they could make themselves useful, and thereby began to weave their own stories.