Anticipatory grief in patients newly diagnosed with onco-hematologic diseases

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to understand the process of anticipatory grief experienced by newly diagnosed adult patients with onco-hematological diseases. Method This is a clinical-qualitative, descriptive-exploratory and cross-sectional study, with anticipatory grief as the theoretical framework. Nine adult patients with hematological malignancies, with an average time since diagnosis of 2.5 months, were interviewed. A semi-structured interview was conducted individually, face-to-face, and audio-recorded. The content was transcribed literally and subjected to reflexive thematic analysis. Results The results indicated that patients, when confronted with the inevitability of death, experience numerous losses but manage to adapt to the new condition and undergo a significant shift in their appreciation of the meaning of life. Despite the emotional impact of the diagnosis, the awareness of one’s own finitude seems to catalyze processes of positive change. Conclusion In conclusion, it was found that patients, while dealing with various losses, developed adaptive resources that allowed them to transform their experience into reflection on the meaning of life.