Vivências e estigmas em mulheres com câncer de mama: estudo clínico qualitativo

Abstract

The cancer, in general, occupies an increasingly important place among chronic diseases and, in particular, in the female population, the most frequent cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) is breast cancer, in Brazil and the world. The breast cancer treatment has evidently progressed with the advancement of more specific technology leading to greater survival. Although, it is necessary integral care to the female population that are confronting or confronted this moment to understand the repercussions caused, not only physical but the psychological and social, therefore it is necessary to realize studies that search to understand the reality of these women, their experiences and feelings, once prejudice and stigmas related to breast cancer are still existing in today´s society. The objective of this study consisted in to know the daily and understand the experiences and stigmas of women with breast cancer diagnosed from 2015 in the city of Vitoria da Conquista, Bahia. The methodological procedures were clinical-qualitative research with 12 women that were in chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormonal treatment or in follow-up to complete the treatment. The age range were 31 to 82 years and three had less than 40 years, nine were married, one single and two widows. The first phase of data collect was developed with individual interviews and audio recorded, with the consent of the collaborators, starting from the guiding questions. The data analysis followed the Clinical-qualitative content analysis technique that comprehend seven phases and the analysis process originated the analysis unit, codes and constructed categories in the study were: ‘diagnosis moment and treatment – from initial impact to confronting the disease’, ‘the interpersonal relations – the importance of supports (familiar, health professionals and social) during the illness process’ and ‘change of lifestyle and life resignification – the perspective of a new look’. The results of study showed that the impacts caused by breast cancer in women during and after the treatment include and reach several aspects of experience of this population. The choices made by the interviewed to the outcome of the adversities that they have passed were determined by their life trajectory, knowledge, believes, family and professional support. The experiences of women with breast cancer were marked by moments of insecure, fear, distress, cry, pain, although they used strategies of confrontation e it was perceived that many women had their identity changed after the illness trajectory however, they managed to retake their life to a similar condition that before the disease. The study demonstrated the need of to evaluate the integral care actual model offered to the cancer patient, in special to the breast cancer women, in order to make evident the feelings, pains, distress, hopes and desires of these women who clamor for attention in the health care. It is important to agreed that the complete recovery from a pathological process goes beyond physical health, also requiring social and family integration and rehabilitation.