American Indian and Alaska Native Understandings of Cancer Through Poetry: A Holistic Experience

American Indians and Alaska Natives experience disproportionately high cancer diagnoses and death rates. This study aims to elucidate American Indian and Alaska Native understandings of cancer as voiced through poetry. Ten writers submitted poems in response to a call for American Indians and Alaskan Natives to share their perspectives, experiences, and knowledge about cancer through poetry. Poetry submissions were analyzed for emergent themes through an inductive-deductive approach using framework analyses grounded in the Native Wellness Model and Cancer Control Continuum. Four overarching themes, one within each of the four Native Wellness Model constructs (mind, body, spirit, and context) and 17 sub-themes, reveal that cancer is a holistic experience for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples. Participant knowledge and experiences varied across the Cancer Control Continuum, with survivorship and palliative care most reflected in the poetry. Fewer poems addressed detection, etiology, and prevention. Poetry can serve as a culturally relevant data source to better understand cancer from American Indian and Alaskan Native perspectives, experiences, and knowledge. More holistic approaches to cancer education, prevention, treatment, and research with American Indians and Alaskan Natives could improve efforts to address cancer within this population.