Abstract

Problem Statement
Today, health is understood as a multidimensional concept that extends far beyond the mere absence of disease. It also encompasses the psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of a patient’s life. Within this framework, narrative plays a vital role as a foundational means of giving meaning to human experience, particularly in the context of illness. Illness narratives enable individuals to reinterpret their lived experiences and reconstruct their identities, while simultaneously providing audiences with a deeper understanding of the human dimensions of confronting disease.
Colorectal cancer, as one of the most prevalent forms of cancer worldwide, imposes extensive physical, psychological, and social burdens upon patients. Alongside remarkable scientific advancements and the use of modern preventive and therapeutic technologies, public awareness disseminated through film can significantly contribute to disease management. Film, especially when grounded in real and personal narratives, possesses a unique ability to represent patients’ lived experiences and evoke empathy among viewers. It may therefore serve as a powerful medium for knowledge transmission, attitude transformation, and the promotion of public awareness.
Adopting a qualitative approach grounded in narrative inquiry, the present study aims to analyze and represent these lived narratives through in-depth conversations with colorectal cancer patients and their treating surgeon. In doing so, the study explores how narrative can be employed in film as an effective tool for enhancing public awareness and reshaping perceptions regarding this illness.
Accordingly, the principal research question is as follows:
How can the narratives of colorectal cancer patients and their surgeon be represented within fictional and educational films?
The ultimate objective of this study is to examine the purposeful use of personal narratives in film in order to increase public awareness about colorectal cancer and to demonstrate the power of storytelling in understanding, accepting, and confronting this disease.
The present analysis pays particular attention to components such as events, characters (patients, specialists, and family members), narrative structure and text, spatial and temporal elements, and narrative discourse in order to achieve a clearer understanding of the narrative process in fictional and educational cinema.

Research Objective
This study focuses on employing the narratives of colorectal cancer patients and their surgeon in order to facilitate awareness-raising and the representation of their lived experiences through fictional and educational films.
Research Question
This research seeks to answer the following question:
How can the narratives of colorectal cancer patients and their surgeon be represented within fictional and educational films?
Research Method
This study employs a qualitative descriptive-analytical method based on a narrative inquiry approach. Data were collected through informal participant observation in the clinical environment of a medical office, as well as through recording informal conversations with colorectal cancer patients and their treating surgeon. The narrative inquiry approach provides the opportunity to gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the human and complex dimensions of illness through the stories and narratives individuals share about their experiences of disease. Sampling was conducted through in-depth conversations with 100 accessible patients at a colorectal clinic over a three-month period. Data analysis was carried out using narrative analysis techniques.
Conclusion
Cancer, as one of the most significant global public health challenges and a leading cause of mortality in Iran, requires effective communicative interventions. This study emphasizes the necessity of increasing awareness regarding colorectal cancer (CRC), since despite considerable medical advancements in diagnosis and treatment—including biopsy, surgery, and chemotherapy—public awareness concerning the importance of screening and its consequences, particularly complications such as the use of ostomy bags, remains insufficient. The findings indicate that spoken and written language play an important role in conveying raw information; however, artistic and media productions, especially film, possess a unique capacity to generate education, empathy, and emotional understanding toward specific illnesses. The life narratives of colorectal patients and surgeons are rich in dramatic and educational elements that may provide a powerful foundation for filmmaking. The notable absence of colorectal cancer representation in Iranian cinema reveals a major cultural and thematic gap, as cinematic attention has largely focused on more widely recognized forms of cancer. Representing this disease in film not only enhances public awareness regarding early diagnosis, but also contributes to addressing this cultural deficiency by utilizing the experiences of physicians and patients in fictional and documentary formats, thereby facilitating social acceptance and psychological support for affected individuals. Narrative components extracted from patients’ experiences include pain, fear of death, love, family, the struggle for survival, challenges associated with temporary or permanent ostomy, denial or acceptance of illness, family secrecy, human relationships, personality transformation, hope and despair, and economic hardship. Supporting characters in fictional films may include the patient, family members, social and support groups, and the colorectal surgeon. In documentary films, scientific explanations by surgeons, the use of related objects such as ostomy bags and medical instruments, the presentation of treatment stages and recovery periods, the use of photographs, and narrative settings such as operating rooms are all of particular significance. Furthermore, introducing the disease, types of tumors, symptoms, diagnostic methods, treatment procedures, and surgical techniques is essential. Finally, the life narrative of a specialist physician or colorectal surgeon—from diagnosis and surgery to professional, emotional, and ethical challenges—can itself create an engaging and educational story for audiences. Therefore, this study emphasizes that representing colorectal cancer narratives through fictional and documentary films constitutes an undeniable necessity for promoting public awareness, transforming social attitudes, and providing psychological support for patients