Objective:

Our aim was to understand cancer survivors’ meanings of life after their cancer experience.

Method:

This was a biographical and qualitative study carried out from a naturalistic approach. We conducted in-depth interviews with five cancer survivors and analyzed the resulting content.

Results:

We found four categories: the stigma of cancer in survivorship; survivorship support networks; self-care in survivorship; and transcendence. The results gave us a greater understanding of survivors’ needs and how they are being addressed by healthcare providers in Colombia.

Conclusions:

Cancer survivors shift towards a more holistic view of their health and transform the meaning of their life based on reflection and belief in God. Therefore, the nursing practice should focus on assisting them in these changes since healing.

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