Meaning-Making and Emotional Resilience in Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Study of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment Experience
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Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy represents a groundbreaking advancement in regenerative medicine, especially for individuals facing cancer. However, while its biological mechanisms are increasingly understood, the subjective experiences of patients remain underexplored. This study investigates how cancer patients undergoing MSC therapy construct meaning, cope emotionally, and engage with the uncertainty of novel treatment pathways. Using an interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA), in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten purposively selected patients from regenerative medicine centers in Southeast Asia between January and April 2025. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis following Smith’s IPA framework, allowing for the extraction of idiographic and cross-case themes.. Analysis revealed four central themes: fear and ambiguity in facing medical uncertainty, the sustaining function of hope, emotional ambivalence shaped by shifting physical states, and culturally embedded interpretations influenced by spirituality and family roles. These findings emphasize the psychological resilience that patients develop, reframing them not just as recipients of therapy but as active participants in meaning-making. The study underscores the importance of acknowledging patients’ emotional landscapes and sociocultural frameworks within regenerative care. By integrating these insights into clinical practice, healthcare providers can foster more compassionate, responsive, and context-aware therapeutic environments. This research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of patient-centered care by highlighting the interpretive and existential dimensions of healing through advanced biomedical innovation.
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