Participating in a support group: experience lived by women with breast cancer

Authors

  • Cleoneide Paulo Oliveira Pinheiro Faculdade Integrada do Ceará
  • Raimunda Magalhães da Silva University of Fortaleza
  • Marli Villela Mamede University of Sao Paulo; Ribeirao Preto College of Nursing
  • Ana Fátima Carvalho Fernandes Federal University of Ceará

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692008000400013

Keywords:

breast neoplasms, mastectomy, group structure

Abstract

The goal of the study was to understand the meaning of support groups in the life of women with breast cancer. It is a qualitative study with 30 mastectomized women who belonged to six support groups in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará. Data were collected with semi-structured interviews, organized and analyzed based on the interactionism concept. The results characterized the support groups as a mechanism to cope with the situation and to overcome the suffering derived from the diagnosis and treatment of the breast carcinoma. The socialization of the experiences facilitated the search for assistance in the support groups, since sharing the problems with mastectomized women was a way to preserve a high self-esteem, have faith and overcome some difficulties. Participating in the group provided well-being and a differentiated care, since it was considered a way to know, accept and understand the disease and its cure, facilitating the socialization of ideas.

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Published

2008-08-01

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 4 (2008)

Section

Original Articles

License

RLAE’s authorship concept is based on the substantial contribution by each of the individuals listed as authors, mainly in terms of conceiving and planning the research project, collecting or analyzing and interpreting data, writing and critical review. Indication of authors’ names under the article title is limited to six. If more, authors are listed on the online submission form under Acknowledgements. The possibility of including more than six authors will only be examined on multicenter studies, considering the explanations presented by the authors.
Including names of authors whose contribution does not fit into the above criteria cannot be justified. Those names can be included in the Acknowledgements section.
 Authors are fully responsible for the concepts disseminated in their manuscripts, which do not necessarily reflect the editors’ and editorial board’s opinion.

 

How to Cite

Participating in a support group: experience lived by women with breast cancer. (2008). Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 16(4), 733-738. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692008000400013