UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective:The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe and understand the experiences of using Dhamma and meditation of cancer patients receiving radiation therapy in one hospital in southern Thailand.

Methods:Qualitative research drew on the experiences described by 10 informants through a series of unstructured interviews.

Results:during undergoing radiation therapy, the informants worried about family's security, living with uncertainty, irritability, being unable to eat, hopelessness, and fear of suffering. Informants used Dhamma to guide their belief in terms of reality of life awareness, doing good deeds getting good results, being grateful to parents, reducing conflict with others, contributing to the community, fear of sins, and worshiping a supernatural spirit. Informants also used meditation to care for their health by chanting “Putto” and praying when they confronted with stress. The informants reported that Dhamma and meditation help them to gain a fighting spirit, a peaceful mind, acceptance of their illness and death, having a peaceful mind, reducing anger, having strength of mind, and being able to sleep and rest.