“Diagnosed cancer free”: a corpus-based experiential analysis of the construction of the ‘self’ in the memoirs of female cancer survivors

The study investigates the self-image and psychological representation of five female cancer survivors (FCSs) from different cultures—Moorjani (2012), Mohammed (2014), Al-Amoudi (2015), Robach (2015), and Segal (2017)—to explore how they represent their self-image and experiences across four key stages: before diagnosis, at diagnosis, during treatment, and after treatment. By focusing on memoirs, the research highlights the empowerment and resilience of these women, as well as the profound impact their experiences have on their social circles.

The research aims to fill the gap in literature on the self-image of women diagnosed with cancer and their lived experience as mediated by the cultural context in which they live.<br><br>The study uses a corpus-based social semiotic approach to explore the experiential processes and levels of dynamism in the memoirs. It employs Driscoll's (2012) updated version of Hasan's (1985/1989) cline of dynamism to reveal how FCSs represent themselves in relation to other participants within a clause, including family, friends, carers, or other individuals.