Asian Oncol Nurs.  2016 Sep;16(3):158-167. 10.5388/aon.2016.16.3.158.

A Phenomenological Study on Breast Cancer Survivors' Experiences of Mind Subtraction Meditation

• Yun MR

• KMID: 2355018
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5388/aon.2016.16.3.158

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to understand the meditation experiences of breast cancer survivors.
METHODS
The participants were 20 breast cancer survivors who participated in 8 weeks of mind subtraction meditation at a tertiary hospital in Korea 2013. The data was collected by in-depth individual interviews, personal logs about the meditation experiences, and field diaries. Data were analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 13 subthemes and 4 themes were derived from the analysis. Participants began to meditate with some doubts initially but were soon comfortable as they became familiar with the meditation method. As they discarded their negativity, they experienced positive changes in their mindset. The experiences of discarded negativity were summarized as "discarding the hate, resentment, and obsession," "discarding the depression, anxiety, and stress," and "discarding the false me." The change after meditation was named "from restraint to freedom," "from negativism to positivism," "from closed doors to the wide open world." and "looking forward to the true happiness."
CONCLUSION
Breast cancer survivors reflected on their lives and experienced positive changes as they discarded their negativity through meditation. It is recommended to perform the nursing interventions utilizing the meditation and conduct further studies to examine its beneficial effects.

Keyword

Breast Cancer; Survivors; Mind Subtraction Meditation; Qualitative Research

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Depression
Hate
Humans
Korea
Meditation*
Methods
Negativism
Nursing
Qualitative Research
Survivors
Tertiary Care Centers

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