Abstract
The meaning printed to health / disease / woman's care for breast cancer is located within complex interactions between sociocultural characteristics, behavioral and biological and action singularized every woman in the construction of personal and social meaning of the experience of this disease. This study aims to understand the meaning that breast cancer is for women with and chemotherapy. This is a descriptive, exploratory, and qualitative study, involving 18 women undergoing chemotherapy in a Unit of High Complexity in Oncology (Unacon) residing in the city of Vitoria da Conquista, state of Bahia, Brazil. The collection took place through a semi-structured interview, during the months of July to September 2016. The thematic analysis of data showed five analytical categories: Denial of disease condition, Sentiments expressed against the disease, Approach to the finitude of life, Impact on self-image and Religious / spiritual coping. The meanings of women with breast cancer over this condition are complex but their understanding may contribute to the realization of care practices that are not restricted to biological, technical, and reifying approaches but more comprehensive and effective care practices.
Keywords:
women's health; breast neoplasms; drug therapy