Cancer Survival as a Social Practice: A Study of Selective Indian Women Cancer Narratives

Researching the survival trajectories of cancer survivors, through their narratives, is indeed crucial for understanding the multifaceted dimensions of their experiences. Within the Indian subcontinent, where cultural, societal, and healthcare dynamics differ widely, studying cancer narratives of female survivors offer a unique perspective. Women often face specific challenges related to gender roles, stigma, access to healthcare, and support systems. Understanding how female cancer survivors navigate through these challenges and develop strategies for survival can benefit both healthcare practices and social support structures. The four primary texts taken for analysis come under the genre of illness narratives: Anita Moorjani’s Dying to Be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing (2012), Neelam Kumar’s To Cancer with Love: My Journey of Life (2015), Manisha Koirala’s (with Neelam Kumar) Healed: How Cancer Gave Me a New Life (2018) and Lisa Ray’s Close to the Bone (2019) are analytically reviewed for the study. Theoretical perspectives from the survivorship theory of Alex Broom and Katherine Kenny have created a framework to analyse the survival trajectory in this research. Exploring how women perceive and cope with the news of their cancer diagnosis, including their emotional responses, fears, and uncertainties makes cancer survival a social practice rather than an individual struggle. The study also identifies the strategies and resources women utilise such as spirituality, peer support, information-seeking, or maintaining a positive outlook. It examines the long-term effects of cancer survivorship, like recurrence, survivorship care, body image, relationships, and existential concerns. By delving into these themes, the research understands the experiences of female cancer survivors to reduce stigma and inspire hope for others facing similar challenges.