The meaning of breast cancer experience for young women

Author(s)

Paola Alexandria Pinto de Magalhães

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2017-04-07

Examining board members

Marislei Sanches Panobianco; Ana Maria de Almeida; Giselle Dupas; Pedro Fredemir Palha; Maria Lourdes Casillas Santana

• Advisor: Marislei Sanches Panobianco

Abstract

Objective: to understand the meaning of breast cancer experience for young women in relation to Work, Maternity and Body Image. Method: qualitative study; Methodological approach: Discourse of the Collective Subject; Theory: Symbolic Interactionism. Developed in a Mastology Ambulatory and Mastectomized Rehabilitation Nucleus. The data collect occurred from February / 2014 to January / 2015. Twelve women between 18 and 40 years were selected by medical records, with up to one year of diagnosis of cancer participated, and those with metastasis and who could not express themselves individually were excluded; they answered the guiding questions: \"How is for you to be a young woman diagnosed with breast cancer in relation to work? Motherhood? And body image?\" Results: The categories emerged: \"The fact that you are young and have to stop working, sometimes I feel kind invalid, you know?\"; The importance of work for being a woman and a young person: \"Work is the building up of the soul! There\'s no better phrase that defines work, and as a young woman: Freedom!\"; The removal of the young woman of his work activity and the social relations; Motherhood and the fact of being a young woman with breast cancer: \"Motherhood has shown me a great love, but it shakes (cancer) because at this age that I am we have many dreams yet, do you understand?\"; Maternal dilemma: have or not have children after breast cancer?; Breastfeeding for the young woman with breast cancer; Maternal dilemma: possible absence for the children; For the young woman with breast cancer, motherhood is the point of balance for coping with cancer; Loss of hair and change in the color of the skin and nails: \"It made me feel ugly. Without expression. I feel weak as a woman\"; The fact of being young and the breast\'s loss: \"I do not want to be mutilated. Losing a breast is very difficult\"; Woman\'s feeling associated to weight gain during treatment: \"it\'s bothering me and my self-esteem falls\"; The young woman is bothered by the curious looks due to the corporal change caused by breast cancer: \"I want to go unnoticed, I do not want them to feel \"poor, so young\'\"; \"Young people suffer a lot. You look at yourself in the mirror and say, \'Oh, I\'m not like everyone else.\' The experience of breast cancer for young women, in relation to work, maternity and body image, it meant living with the duality of \"having to treat\" and to have to \"go through the adversities imposed by breast cancer\"; deal with difficulties, especial when they needed to \"camouflage their suffering\", so their children / partner / relatives and friends would not suffer \"with their pains (of women)\", and \"support\" when they were able to \"share the experience of breast cancer\" with them. Conclusion: health professionals must act on the deficits caused by the disease (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/24899-0 - The significance of the diagnosis of breast cancer for young women
• Grantee: Paola Alexandria Pinto de Magalhães
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)