Abstract

MARTINS, Ana Ruth B.; OURO, Thamara A. do  and  NERI, Marília. Sharing experiences: contributions from a support group for women with breast cance. Rev. SBPH [online]. 2015, vol.18, n.1, pp. 131-151. ISSN 1516-0858.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide and the most common among women. Treatment for cancer involves not only physical effects but also psychological. Thus, the inclusion of patients in support groups is important in order to mitigate the impact caused by the disease. This study aims to identify the contributions support groups offer to women with breast cancer, investigate what is the meaning of cancer for these patients, the group's role in fighting cancer and experienced changes after entering the group. This is a descriptive qualitative study with women who are part of a support group, in which semistructured interviews were used, as well as a sociodemographic questionnaire as a data collection instrument. The results point to what, in the support groups, in fact, contributes to the process of coping with breast cancer, in the sense that the group is a space that offers holding, information, and also generates involvement in preventive and social activities.

Keywords : Breast Cancer; Support Group; Contribution; Impact.

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