title: Portraits of cancer survivorship: a glimpse through the lens of survivors' eyes.
abstract: Cancer survivorship is a tumultuous experience of balancing the elation of surviving life-threatening illness with the demands of chronic health concerns and altered life meaning. Increased awareness of the needs of cancer survivors is enhanced by large studies of this growing population, but also by appreciation of individual stories of survivorship. "Portraits" of survival, in the form of personal narratives, contribute to our understanding of the experience of cancer. Select portraits from a study exploring quality of life in cancer survivorship are shared to convey themes of rendering an old life, transition to a different life, and living an altered life after cancer diagnosis.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Ferrell
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Dow
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*