COMMUNITY LIVING - A SENSE OF BELONGING, FRIENDSHIP, SUPPORT AMONG CANCER PATIENTS IN PALLIATIVE CARE

Abstract

This study indicates community living as an effective means to cope with cancer. This article points out the way of living of cancer patients in palliative care and how they cope with their illnesses. They live in a community setting, and their community living helped them cope with the symptoms and become self-aware and expand their knowledge of the illness. The friendship that bloomed in the course of time offered great emotional strength and motivated them to overcome the illness. This group is formed by themselves without any professional interference. Therefore, the article suggests that the social worker, who is professionally trained to help them navigate both the group and the treatment trajectory, intervene. To conclude, support groups and living as a community act as a means of catharsis for the patients.