The grief experienced by bereaved families can lead to positive changes, and its relevance to the emerging concept of posttraumatic growth has been explored. However, studies on survivors bereaved of a spouse by cancer are scarce; consequently, the nature of growth remains poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the growth experiences of survivors bereaved of a spouse by cancer. Based on Merleau-Ponty's theory of the body, we phenomenologically analyzed narratives/qualitative data collected through interviews of 21 survivors bereaved of a spouse by cancer. The assessment of the growth of survivors bereaved of a spouse by cancer began before the bereavement, with the questioning of habits with the living spouse because of illness and prognosis announcement and/or bereavement, reaffirming the connection with the spouse, realizing that it provides emotional support, and becoming accustomed to who they are now in the new environment.
Keywords: Merleau-Ponty’s theory of the body; bereavement; grief; qualitative study; spouses.