Theoretical conceptual and subjective aspects of cancer survivorship: contributions to cancer nursing

Author(s)

Rafaela Azevedo Abrantes de Oliveira

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2017-09-22

Examining board members

Marcia Maria Fontao Zago; Regina Aparecida Garcia de Lima; Rosani Manfrin Muniz; Lucila Castanheira Nascimento

• Advisor: Marcia Maria Fontao Zago

Abstract

The progress in the early diagnosis of cancer and therapies, as well as the longevity and population growth remit to an increased number of cancer survivors around the world, giving rise to a new term, that of cancer survivorship (CS). The general objective in this study was to analyze the concept of CS in the health literature and among adult and/or elderly patients diagnosed with the disease. To achieve this objective, we elaborated four specific objectives, which made us organize the dissertation in three main phases. The objective of the first phase is to analyze the concept of CS presented in the health literature, according to Rodgers\' evolutionary model of concept analysis. This model is arranged in six steps, recommending the analysis of the studies surveyed by means of inductive thematic analysis and their interpretation according to the theoretical framework of the culture concept. As a result, we obtained the components of the concept, which help us understand it. These are: antecedent - being diagnosed with cancer; consequent - quality of life of cancer survivors (StC) and personal growth; attributes - liminality process and culturally congruent care; substitute terms - StC, long-term survival and individuals living after the cancer diagnosis, and finally the related terms - cancer survival and rehabilitation. For the second phase, the purpose was to apprehend the meanings attributed to being StC among the patients, as well as to describe the meanings adult and elderly patients attribute to the CS concept through narrative syntheses. Thus, we built a qualitative study, using the narrative method and the reference framework of medical anthropology. We held semistructured interviews with 14 participants diagnosed with different types of urological cancer, male and female, adult and elderly, with at least three months post-treatment. After transcribing the data, they were analyzed according to inductive thematic analysis and two narrative syntheses were elaborated, the first being the dualities of life after the treatment; from loss of self-control, the uncertainty of the disease relapse to optimism and hope. In this synthesis, we discuss the survivor\'s experience with the disease, the loss of control the disease triggers and the consequent personal growth and gaining of optimism despite the circumstances experienced. The second synthesis is entitled: Who am I? Am I a cancer survivor? Self-reflection on the identity after the primary cancer treatment. In this synthesis, we apprehend the participants\' reflection on how they see themselves and attribute meanings to being ill, cured, victim and mainly StC. These two narrative syntheses allowed us to describe and get closer to the meanings attributed to CS. The third phase was developed in three topics, the first being the comparison between the results of phase one and phase two, complemented with the importance of oncology nursing in care for StC and a reflection on the current public health policies. This dissertation updates the concept of CS and offers new perspectives, contributing to oncology nursing (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/12058-6 - Conceptual analysis of the cancer survivorship: contribution to the knowledge of oncologic nursing
• Grantee: Rafaela Azevedo Abrantes de Oliveira Simoneti
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)