Some
words about myself:
I was born in 1960 and live just outside Bergen, close to forests, mountains and fjords. At the present I work as assistant professor at Bergen University Colleger, Institute of Nursing. I also teach and lecture on a private basis. I have practiced as a healer since 1983, and given workshops and lectures across Norway since 1986. I have formal qualification as a registered nurse and a Master Degree in Health Sciences, but have worked full time with healing, past life regression and teaching for many years. My master thesis (see below) is on exceptional cancer patients.
I am full healer member of The
Norwegian Healers Association and National
Federation of Spiritual Healers (GB). I was involved with the foundation of two healer
organisations in Norway, the fist in 1994 and the second in 2005. I was also vice-chair of the European
Confederation of Healing Organisations 2001-2002. From 2002 to 2005 I
was chair of the
Norwegian association for Nurses in alternative
medicine.
My heart is devoted to healing and holistic medicine. I have done my best to "ground"
and demystify healing, to make people aware that healing is a natural phenomena,
as well as the spiritual dimension of existence also is a natural and integrated
part of what we call ordinary, every day existence. I have written some articles
on the subject; until I have them translated you just have to teach yourself
Norwegian to read them. Some of the articles and links on my pages are in
english, though... Also check my multilingual healing-site; www.altomhealing.no
Post-graduate theses in nursing sciences:
Exceptional cancer patients. Experience, meaning and coping in people who "against all odds" survive serious cancer disease.
Else Egeland <post@else-egeland.org> , Postboks 122 Fana, 5859 Bergen, Norway
Section of Nursing Sciences, University of Bergen
Abstract Occasionally some people unexpectedly recover from serious cancer disease or live longer than medically expected. Biomedicine usually describes this phenomenon as spontaneous regression of the disease. People who experience the phenomenon are rarely asked whether they have actively tried to cope with the disease.
The purpose of this study was to gain further understanding of people who survive cancer "against all odds". The research question was whether the persons had actively tried to win back their life and health. The study asked what they did and what meaning they attributed to their disease and to their recovery, their actions and choices.
8 people who had lived experience with the research question were interviewed. The methodological approach was phenomenology and the qualitative research interview.
The participants had used different alternative medicine approaches to cope with their disease. Disease is often viewed in relation to life strains. Their own attitude and that they took personal responsibility is viewed as the most important reason for their positive health state. The hospital doctors showed little interest in their coping efforts. The doctors often communicated the medical prognosis as a death sentence that could crush all hope; there was nothing that the person could do to affect the disease. The participants expressed a need for a more constructive and meaningful conversation and to be met as whole persons. The most important support for their own coping strategies came from relatives and friends.
According to the findings of this study survival statistics should not guide how hope is communicated the individual patient. The focus must be ethical hope. Recent knowledge on body-mind connections must be taken more seriously. It is possible to approach disease through several levels of the whole system. The public health service should approach the person as a whole and communicate respect for the patients own coping strategies.
Key words: Exceptional cancer patients, cancer, coping, meaning, hope, alternative medicine, holism.
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E-mail: post@else-egeland.org Web: www.else-egeland.org |
| © Else Egeland, Postboks 122 Fana, 5859 Bergen, Norway. | |