Existentialist philosophical analysis of existential distress in advanced cancer patients
10.12026/j.issn.1001-8565.2026.03.09
- VernacularTitle:晚期癌症患者生存痛苦的存在主义哲学分析
- Author:
Hongtao ZHENG
1
;
Wei WANG
2
;
Huafang LI
3
Author Information
1. Department of Medical Oncology， the First People’s Hospital of Yongkang， Yongkang 321300， China
2. The First People’s Hospital of Yongkang， Yongkang 321300， China
3. Department of Nursing， the First People’s Hospital of Yongkang， Yongkang 321300， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
existentialism;
advanced cancer;
existential distress;
Dasein;
existential meaning
- From:
Chinese Medical Ethics
2026;39(3):345-350
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Existentialist philosophy focuses on human existence， explores subjectivity and uniqueness， and highlights the value of human existence. Advanced cancer patients generally suffer immense existential distress， each with their own modes of appearance and numerous possibilities. From the perspective of existentialist philosophy， targeting the group of advanced cancer patients， this paper clarified the analysis of “Dasein” （holistic phenomenon and modes of appearance）. Through recognition （achieving to deepen the inner scope of the subject and object） and comprehension （seeking appropriate “self-knowledge”）， it introduced the planning of variable possibilities. Subsequently， based on the patients’ pre-possessing， pre-seeing， and pre-grasping， explanatory activities were carried out to complete the “self-formation” in the planning. Ultimately， it facilitated the realization of existential meaning in the presupposition and proposed actionable clinical practices （meaning therapy and emotional touch therapy） to alleviate the existential distress of advanced cancer patients.
