Câncer infantil: percepções maternas e estratégias de enfrentamento frente ao diagnóstico

Abstract

Objective: To investigate maternal perceptions of childhood cancer and strategies for coping in a pediatric unit in Recife, Brazil.Methods: This descriptive exploratory study was conducted using qualitative methods. The reports of 10 patients' mothers were analyzed according to a saturation sampling technique. The investigation was conducted in a pediatric oncology unit of the Instituto Materno-Infantil Professor Fernando Figueira. Fieldwork was carried out from March to May 2006 using observation techniques and recorded interviews to respond to three guiding questions. Content analysis and thematic coding were used, and recurrent themes were extracted from the categories identified.Results: Mothers' ages ranged from 22 to 39 years, and two had only one child. The following themes stood out in the analysis of maternal perceptions of the moment that they were living: attitudes and feelings when the disease was diagnosed; information as support for coping; and social support. Conclusions:Maternal perceptions of childhood cancer revealed a shocking, painful and despairing experience, as well as a sensation of loss that made life meaningless. The sources of family support were individual religious beliefs, family members, healthcare team and friends.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2007;83(6):562-566: Cancer, chronic disease, diagnosis, child, family, social support.

Childhood Cancer: Meanings Attributed to the Disease by Parent Caregivers

“…To say the word cancer in front the parents of a child in the diagnosis stage is often perceived as being a prophecy which culminates in death (Beltrão et al, 2007;Klassmann et al, 2008;Malta et al, 2008;Silva et al, 2009). This stigma goes with the concept that the child is a fragile being.…”

“…It should be noted that the simple fact of being able to fi ght the disease, for some study participants, seems to mean the chance of having a sense of control, due to the feeling of powerlessness that the disease and its treatment create (Beltrão et al, 2007;Moreira & Angelo, 2008).…”

“…Furthermore, death, up to then never thought about, starts to haunt their lives as an inevitable and irreversible phenomenon. The stigma of cancer is that of an incurable disease, co nsidered by many as a waiting room for death, which generates intense feelings of sorrow (Beltrão, Vasconcelos, Pontes, & Albuquerque, 2007;Klassmann et al, 2008;Malta et al, 2008;Silva, Andrade, Barbosa, Hoffmann, & Macedo, 2009).…”

“…Being faced with this situation can generate feelings of powerlessness (Beltrão et al, 2007;Moreira & Angelo, 2008), as the caregiver, while feeling responsible for protecting the little patient, has no power to reverse the disease or alleviate the suffering of the child (Moreira & Angelo, 2008).…”

“…In this sense, the more known about the disease, the greate r the sense of empowerment to face the struggle against cancer (Beltrão et al, 2007;Moreira & Angelo, 2008). From the perspective of the parents, such a struggle is experienced from them and their children coping together, as inseparable dyads.…”