Abstract: The existing literature on life course study mostly places individual life course events on objective timelines and lacks attention to individuals' subjective experience of time. Terminally ill elderly cancer patients from the LF hospital in Shanghai are selected for this study to examine the impact of the moment of truth when patients are informed of their diagnoses on their subjective perception of time. The study finds four major changes occurred after this critical moment:(1)Reconstructions of self-identity;(2)Compression and extension of time in life-course narratives;(3)Perception of time affected by pain and suffering;and (4)Time structure impacted by treatment schedules and hospital appointments. We further examine the influence of social work intervention on patients' subjective perception of time and how social workers help patients regain values of life. Active involvement by social workers at the end of life care empowers elderly cancer patients in multiple ways. Through cognitive intervention on reconstruction of time structure,social workers help patients to fulfill their unfulfilled wishes,to form a new narrative of their life story through "photo albums",to alter subjective perception of the passing of time,and to have positive anticipation of the future and healthier mental state. The findings in this study are also applicable to other groups who have also experienced "moment of truth" and suffered setbacks in their life course. Finally,this study provides many insights for the further development of life course theory,and promotes social work practice,especially the end of life care intervention service guided by life course theory.

Key words: life course, moment of truth, time reconstruction, cancer patients