Trial Information

Creating Meaning Following Cancer: An Cognitive-existential Intervention to Improve Existential and Global Quality of Life

People diagnosed with cancer must learn to cope with loss of meaning and empowerment which
compromises quality of life. Questions regarding "Why me?", along with universal existential
concerns about death, search for meaning, and sense of control over one's life, often
constitute the principal source of overall suffering. Since there is no single and
identifiable cause for cancer, those existential questions are commonly observed among
patients who demand specific interventions to properly address this central issue. The
existential approach can be used to help patients find meaning in the midst of a crisis. It
addresses a central issue of survivorship in cancer.

The conceptual model explains the relation between being exposed to a stressful and
traumatic life event such as cancer and the risk of progressing toward adjustment
difficulties which compromises quality of life and existential integrity. Cancer constitutes
a major stressor involving significant losses that confronts the person's beliefs system. A
set of therapeutic strategies can help to cope with this inevitable challenge: 1)
cognitive-behavioral strategies; 2) direct existential intervention; and 3) social support
through supportive-expressive strategies. Adjustment first involves cognitive reframing of
the perception of the situation (situational meaning). Cognitive reframing also contributes
to a readjustment of personal beliefs and values (global meaning and existential dimension).
Existential strategies enable to further this process by including cognitive (beliefs, sense
of coherence, expectations), motivational (choice, goal setting, and goal driving) and
affective dimensions. The expressive-supportive strategy promotes active listening and
non-judgmental support to encourage expression of emotions. The use of these active coping
strategies (meaning-based) to the threatened-life challenge enables optimization of
existential and global quality of life, as opposed to employing passive strategies such as
avoidance.