Introduction: Incidence of cancer morbidity and mortality in the Philippines continues to escalate despite the survival rate that much still need to be desired. Few were able to cross the bridge. Still the social processes surrounding cancer survivors’experiences has not been given much attention. Methods: A Grounded Theory was the design selected using in-depth, unstructured interview among ten (10) participants who were considered as cancer survivors. Purposive, snowball and theoretical sampling were used to recruit participants. Interviews were audiotaped or recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was guided by Creswell’s four major phases; open coding, axial coding, selective coding and visual portraying. Memoing, field notes, member checking, audit trail and validation were all integrated with the study to enhance trustworthiness of study findings. Results: Based from the participants’ story, the primary psychosocial process that emerged can be described as “transformational journey”. This core variable explains the complexity of the journey in the life of a cancer survivor. The researchers identified six (6) iterative phases namely: (1) seeking answers; (2) encountering burden; (3) will to survive; (4) exhausting measures to live; (5) becoming a victor and (6) transitioning. Conclusion The findings from this study elucidates that cancer patients who become victorious after battling the disease traverses a transformational journey that defies and changes their perspective at what life is. Healthcare provider should develop protocol on how to support and to assist patient as they battle through the challenges in the different stages of their journey.
Cancer Survivors ; Neoplasms ; Grounded Theory ; Data Analysis

In every 10 seconds, there is a woman who is giving birth around the globe and what binds them is the pain that goes through with the birthing process. This study aims to determine effects of hand reflexology in reducing postpartum pain as measured by comparing pain level between control and study group after establishing comparability of the two groups based on age, parity, income and work status. Furthermore, this study explores the experiences of mother's postpartum pain after receiving an intervention. The results should give nurses an alternative means in decreasing postpartum pain. This study makes use of a pretest and posttest control group design with a qualitative data on the experience of pain after receiving an intervention obtained through interview among mothers within 24 hours post-delivery. Respondents were randomly selected wherein study groups (n=10) received a minute hand reflexology massage (ROM, pressure, thumb walking) while the control group (n=10) received to intervention. Pain level was measured using a numeric pain scale rating. Chi-square and pooled t-test was used to infer study findings. No significant difference was noted on the demographic profile in terms of age (p-value of 0.31), parity (0.36), income (0.65), and work status (0.61) between the study and control group thus variability of the respondents profile was controlled thereby reducing extraneous variables to affect study findings. Pain decreased significantly before and after in the study group (p value 0.01) but not in the control group (p value 0.21). Likewise, comparing study and control group did show significant result (p value 0.01). Qualitatively, a linear transition emerges from experiencing discomfort to comfort. Quantitatively, this study supports empirical evidence that hand reflexology massage is effective in reducing postpartum pain. Overall, respondents were satisfied and comforted with hand reflexology as an intervention. Further research on its longitudinal effect on relieving postpartum pain needs to be established after receiving an intervention.

Human ; Female ; Adult ; Massage ; Philippines