You are encouraged to attend the defence. The details of the defence and attendance information is included below:  

Date:  Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Time:  9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (PT)

Defence mode:  Hybrid

In-Person Attendance: Senate Chambers, UNBC Prince George Campus  

Virtual Attendance: via Microsoft Teams 

Please contact the Office of Graduate Administration for information regarding remote attendance for online defences. 

To ensure the defence proceeds with no interruptions, please mute your audio and video on entry and do not inadvertently share your screen. The meeting will be locked to entry 5 minutes after it begins: please ensure you are on time.  

Thesis entitled: STORIES OF ILLNESS – NARRATIVES FROM NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA RESIDENTS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER

Abstract: 

This study explored the lived experiences of residents in northern British Columbia (BC) who had recently been diagnosed with cancer.  A cancer diagnosis disrupts expectations for the future and requires individuals to adjust their daily routines and long-term plans (Zorba et al., 2001).  The impact of diagnosis extends beyond the person with cancer, affecting family relationships, community interactions, and attachment to place (Bultz & Carlson, 2006).  Geography plays a critical role in shaping individual experience.  In northern BC, significant distances, limited access to healthcare, and the regions social and cultural characteristics affect emotional well-being, support networks and treatment decisions (Kornelsen et al., 2021).  Connections to home, land, and community create both benefits and limitations that affect how individuals experience change in the context of healthcare. 

Using qualitative methodology grounded in narrative inquiry, fifteen participants who had received a cancer diagnosis in the past year at BC Cancer Prince George shared their personal stories through individual interviews, providing rich insight into their lived experiences.  Participant narratives were analyzed using the framework developed by Lieblich et al., (1998).  From this analysis, five categories emerged that reflected the psychosocial, relational, and logistical dimensions of living with a cancer diagnosis.  These included navigating the emotional landscape of a recent cancer diagnosis, managing waiting and uncertainty, gathering support, coping with the impact of geography on cancer care, and facing cancer with hope.  Together, these categories illustrated how a cancer diagnosis influenced daily life, relationships, and decision making, highlighting the challenges experienced by individuals living in rural communities.

The findings highlight the central role of storytelling in helping individuals make sense of illness, connect with others, and reconstruct identity in the face of uncertainty (Frank 1997).  By illustrating the experiences of northern BC residents, the study identified how healthcare providers can better support recently diagnosed cancer patients, helping them make informed decisions, set achievable goals, and understand treatment outcomes.  This patient-centered approach enhances care by facilitating empathetic, effective support that meets the specific needs of those residing in rural and remote communities.  Integrating the perspectives of individuals diagnosed with cancer into the development of healthcare planning ensures that lived experience informs program and service design.  The findings demonstrate the importance of culturally and geographically responsive strategies to inform policy, care delivery and future research on psychosocial well-being.   

Defence Committee:

Chair: Dr. Joseph Shea, University of Northern British Columbia 

Supervisor: Dr. Linda O'Neill, University of Northern British Columbia  

Committee Member: Dr. Susan Burke, University of Northern British Columbia  

Committee Member: Dr. Robert Olson, BC Cancer

Committee Member: Dr. Alan Bates, BC Cancer

External Examiner: Dr. Vera Caine, University of Victoria