| The majority of scientific meditation studies have involved concentrative rather than mindfulness meditation, and few of these studies have focused on the use of meditation by people with cancer. This dissertation is a qualitative study of a group of cancer patients' experiences with mindfulness meditation practice, as related to their quality of life.;The participants were 18 volunteers from support groups at The Wellness Community-Knoxville (one of 19 such facilities across the country offering free psychosocial support for those with cancer). They were given a 9-week mindfulness meditation course modeled on the one at the Stress Reduction Clinic of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Participants attended classes once a week and devoted an hour a day to meditation practices.;Data-gathering instruments were semi-structured recorded interviews, group discussions, participant observation, and journals. Initial analysis of the data showed that the participants' experiences of cancer and mindfulness meditation practice fell into 5 broad categories: (a) Cancer: A Catalyst for Inner Exploration; (b) Mindfulness Meditation: A Way of Inner Exploration; (c) Mindfulness in Routine Activities; (d) Mindfulness in Self-Understanding; and (e) Mindfulness in Interpersonal Relationships. The data within each category were then analyzed, and themes, including common themes, were identified.;The study revealed that for many of the participants a diagnosis of cancer had stimulated an interest in inner exploration, for which mindfulness became a disciplined approach that helped them understand and enrich their lives. They described how bringing an accepting awareness to daily routine enhanced their self-knowledge, making them aware of and more prone to attend to their needs. They also became conscious of the good moments still available to them. In addition, the participants reported that bringing nonjudgmental awareness to stressful interactions with others gave them greater control over their feelings and behavior, enabling them to develop more appropriate modes of communication.;Thus, the practice of mindfulness meditation increased the cancer patients' understanding not only of themselves but also of others. In the process, they seemed to feel that they had improved the quality of their lives. |
