Perception of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a comprehensive analysis.

Perception of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a comprehensive analysis. Rev Bras Enferm. 2019 Dec;72(suppl 3):103-110 Authors: Medeiros MB, Silva RMCRA, Pereira ER, Melo SHDS, Joaquim FL, Santos BMD, Goés TRP Abstract OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively analyze the perception of women with breast cancer on the experience of undergoing chemotherapy. METHOD: This was a qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological study, supported by the Merleau-Ponty philosophy. It was conducted in a chemotherapy outpatient clinic with 20 participants who completed a phenomenological interview. RESULTS: The phenomenological data analysis demonstrated that the perception of women about the experience of chemotherapy is about change, not only of the physical body, but of their identity, and that it considers existential aspects. Three categories emerged from the experience of alopecia, fatigue, and spirituality, respectively: the body itself, the current and habitual body, and transcendence. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Bodily changes, and the existential implications perceived by the women in this study, analyzed from the Merleau-Ponty perspective, makes it possible to consider body concept, and provides support for humanized care based on singularity and the socio-cultural context. PMID: 31851241 [PubMed - in process]
Source: Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: Rev Bras Enferm Source Type: research