Resumo

QUINTANA, Alberto Manuel. Trauma and symbolism in breast cancer patients. Temas psicol. [online]. 1999, vol.7, n.2, pp.107-118. ISSN 1413-389X.

This paper aimed at the understanding of the psychic dynamics of women with breast cancer diagnosis and the psychologist's work with them. First, we role discussed the relationship between the anatomical and the erogenous body, highlighting the psychic body as the product of an identity process, which uses the biological body as its substratum but is not limited to it. After that, we showed the importance of the representations which constitute the erogenous body as a way of controling the excitements originated from the somatic body. Then we dealt with the death issue and its implication, showing how the breast cancer diagnosis results in a situation of helplesness, loneliness, loss of ties and disruption of meaning in the life of these women, leading to a traumatic situation to which they have no ability to represent.

Palavras-chave : breast cancer; psychosomatic; body; hospital psychology.

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