[[alternative]]Male cancer patients’ experience of loss and grief-The examples of two esophageal cancer patients

[[abstract]]本研究主要目的乃為了解男性癌症患者的失落與悲傷經驗，同時理解在一個普遍期許男性要有“男性氣概”的社會文化下，身為男性，又會是如何面對及因應如癌症般重大的失落。本研究受訪對象乃經醫院醫師介紹徵得。本研究採質性研究方法進行研究，主要以半結構式的深度訪談法蒐集資料。經資料整理與分析後，本研究得到以下的結論與發現：一、癌症發生後男性患者總會表現出冷靜與無畏懼的態度，但其實內心還是會有震驚、不安、困惑、擔心、愧疚、難過等情緒反應。二、男性患者雖是直接受到衝擊的人，但在面對家人時，他們卻是站在一個保護與關懷的位子，去體貼與安慰家人的反應。三、男性癌症患者對於未來的生活態度抱有討價還價的想法，認為要放任或珍惜生命的健康，全賴治療後的生命長度來做決定。四、男性癌症患者所面臨的失落有：1.工作的失落、2.強健體魄的失落、3.身體機能的失落、4.菸酒嗜好的失落、5.保護與供給角色的失落、6.自主控制感的失落、7.面子的失落、8.親子關係的失落、9.生涯的失落。五、男性癌症患者通常會用認知思考的方式來取代負面的情緒感受，同時會以行動解決的方式來因應癌症的失落與挑戰。六、有無妻小的問題是男性癌症者所關注的議題。七、家人的支持與幫助是男性癌症患者強而有力的資源，卻也挑戰了接受幫助下的面子問題。針對上述結果與發現，本研究乃對醫療實務工作者、心理諮商員、醫療或社區單位、患者家屬、及男性癌症患者等提出建議，以供參考。[[abstract]]The main purpose of this research is to examine the issues: How do male cancer patients cope with the loss and grief? How do they face the stress from the society, which expects the male to be masculine in any situation? The research was conducted by the qualitative study method. The data was collected by the semi-structured interview in greater depth. After detailed analysis, the author revealed the facts as list below:A. Although male cancer patients tend to face the illness calmly and bravely, they actually deeply suffer from the mental anguish. The complex emotion combined with shock, fear, confusing, guilty, and sadness. B. The family of the patients is inevitably involved and experiencing the sadness. Although the male patients are suffering from the illness, but surprisingly, they still play a rule of providing solicitude and protection. C. The patients sustain the pain and sadness lonely. Their attitude toward the future is mainly influenced by the length of the rest of their life after the treatment. It can be positive, it can be negative too. D. The types of loss include: the loss of job, the loss of health, the loss of body functionality, the loss of hobby of smoking and drinking, the loss of being a rule of providing and protecting, the loss of control, the loss of dignity, the loss of family, and the loss of life. E. The male cancer patients tend to defeat the cancer by using a positive thinking way instead of negative emotional impulse. They are more likely to tackle the challenge actively and practically. F. The research proves that male cancer patients consistently play a backbone in the family during the whole treatment process. G. The support from the family gives male cancer patients courage but also impacts their dignity. Patients’ rule changed from being a supporter to an aid seeker, which fact erodes their masculine pride while the disease is eroding their life at the same time.The finding of the research is hoped to contribute useful suggestions to those who are currently suffering from the cancer and their families. The information is also hoped to be valuable for the medical researcher, the psychological counselor, and the community medical center