本研究的目的是想瞭解癌症末期病人對生死意義的體認。採現象學研究法，共有二十六位癌症末期病人受訪，訪談之進行採開式，所有內容均予錄音，並逐字騰寫成敘述性文本，Giorgi的現象學研究方法分析資料，結果發現癌症末期病人體認的生死意義有五個類目：(1)責任：責任的承擔與卸下，藉著自身對社會、家人以及天賦的使命來體悟生死意義；活著是為承擔與完成自身未了的責任，死亡是卸下責任重擔；(2)愛：對愛的執著與割捨，藉著從世間獲得的親情關受、人間溫情或是領受神的愛來體驗生死意義；愛使生存在意義，也是支撐生存的力量；(3)希望：希望的破滅與再現，藉著所面臨無法挽球的性命體念生死意義；此生存活無望，乃寄望子嗣；(4)奉獻：靈心的付出無憾，藉著生命的回顧肯定生命意義與值價，雖死無憾；(5)重生：生命的終結與永恆，藉著所面臨必然的死亡體到生與死的意義；具有宗教信仰者，因著信仰在來世獲得永恆的生命。本研究發現癌症末期病人活下去的豛力，來自未盡的責任與使命，以及感受到人間溫暖與親情摯愛；然而在體悟生與死之真義及生命之永恆，終將摒棄一，坦然面對死亡。

This study is designed primarily to understand the meaning of life and death perceived by terminal cancer patients. The research interviewed twenty six terminal cancer patients and all interviews were recorded in a non-structured way and analyzed with Giorgi’s qualitative method of phenomenology. The result of this analysis reveals that the terminal cancer patient has realized the meaning of life and death in four respects. (1) Responsibility-assumption and relief-the patient perceives the meaning of life and death according to the mission assigned by society, family and God/Nature; to live is to take up and accomplish unfinished tasks, and to die is to be relieved of all of the trouble of work. (2) Love-deep love and severing of relationships-the patient perceives the meaning of life and death through the intimate feelings and warmth of people, and God’s love and concern which makes his/her life warmth of his/her, and God’s love and concern which makes his/her life more meaningful. (3) Hope-destruction and resurrection-the patient perceives the meaning of life and death when facing the reality of unredeemable life. He is destined to die and leave his expectations to be fulfilled by his/her children. (4) Dedication: As he/she recognizes the meaning and value of life, he/she totally devotes himself/herself to it all his life without regret. (5) Resurrection-termination and eternity of life-the patient perceives the meaning of life and death through the positive death he/she faces. Religious persons believe that they will enjoy eternal life in the other world. This study reveals that the terminal cancer patient’s will to live originates from the tasks and responsibilities unaccomplished and the intimate feelings and warmth of people. Just because he/she fully realizes the true meaning of life and death and the eternity of life, he/she finally gives up everything and faces the reality of death gallantly.