Abstract

GUIMARAES, Claudiane Aparecida; DELLAZZANA-ZANON, Letícia Lovato  and  ENUMO, Sônia Regina Fiorim. Maternal coping with childhood cancer in four stages of the disease. Pensando fam. [online]. 2021, vol.25, n.2, pp. 81-97. ISSN 1679-494X.

The family caregiver provides fundamental support in chronic diseases such as cancer, suffering the greatest physical, emotional and social burden. This research analyzed the process of coping with four mothers of children with cancer aged 7-13 years, at different stages of the disease - diagnosis [M1], treatment [M2], maintenance [M3] and terminality [M4]. Mothers individually answered the Interview Protocol on Coping with Cancer of Children and Adolescents, with 34 questions. The biggest stressors were related to the difficulty of the prognosis of the case, the lack of time and energy to dedicate to the family and the financial difficulties. Mothers presented more adaptive coping strategies, such as: Self-confidence, Problem solving, Information search and Accommodation, indicative of perceived challenge to the needs of Relationship, Competence and Autonomy. The data show the need to assess and meet the demands of this population, considering the stage of the disease.

Keywords : Child caregivers; Coping; Pediatric cancer.

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