Resumo

GARCIA CASTANEDA, Jheimy Jackeline  e  LONDONO BURITICA, Diana Patricia. PERCEPTIONS OF WOMEN OVER THE PROCESS OF ENDURING BREAST CANCER, ARMENIA, 2015. Investig. andina [online]. 2020, vol.22, n.40, pp.303-325.  Epub 18-Jun-2020. ISSN 0124-8146.

Breast cancer is the most common among women, in the world. According to the PAHO (1), in 2012, 408.000 cases were diagnosed in America, and there were 92.000 deaths. In Colombia, in 2011, this cancer caused 2.257 deaths, a rate of 24.39/100.000 women and 8.886 cases were diagnosed, a rate of 12.2/100.000 women. Thus, it became the most common cancer in females older than 45 (2). Diagnosis alternatives have not been enough, and once cancer has been identified, women must undergo multiple treatments that involve chemotherapy and radical surgeries, which makes the process sensitive, as culturally speaking, breasts are synonyms of femininity and sensuality. Perceptions of women over their breasts play a very important role in the acceptance of self-care during the treatment, as some qualitative studies worldwide have shown. We carried out a qualitative and phenomenological study that questioned, through deep interviews, the perception of women in Quindio about the process of enduring breast cancer. We used purposive sampling and we collected the information with a "snow-ball" approach. Then we categorized, triangulated and contrasted the information. Four categories of analysis were determined: knowledge, social phenomena, family, person. They included twelve subcategories. One emerging category with two subcategories was identified. Findings revealed that women have limited knowledge over the disease, and that the diagnosis is generally associated to death and disabilities. However, they accept treatment, and family support is important, since they find motivation in their children. Regarding social phenomena, we highlight the fact women feel discrimination from society and a critic to their physical appearance from chemotherapy. Even though breasts have a special meaning for women and their physical appearance is a priority, they are pushed to the background. Their sense of femininity changes, it is not based on physical appearance but on women's behavior and attitudes about life. These findings help understand the meaning of breast cancer for women.

Palavras-chave : cancer; breast cancer; women; chemotherapy.

        · resumo em Português | Espanhol     · texto em Espanhol     · Espanhol ( pdf )