This descriptive study reports attitudes off 45 Swiss cancer partients about the meaning the illness and its treatment had for them and their families. The research design included a semistructured interview translted into Swiss German by one of the investigators. Cancer was perceived to have deep impact on the daily living of these patients and many of their fa,o;oes. Interviews typically evoked a review of the past and search for causes of their illness, and reflected these patients' various experiences with treatmets. patients' various experiences with trreatments. Patients described five patteerns of coming to terms with the illness and treatment experiences: (a) denying, (b) giving up, (c) resoging, (acepting) and (e) integrating. The findings of this research corrborated earlier studies conducted in Taiwan and Egypt. However, Noteworthy differences were documented amiong the three cultures Clinical and research suggestions are made for Swiss nursing.