Representaciones sociales del cáncer y la quimioterapia

Abstract

Cancer is a major cause of mortality worldwide, so efforts have been mobilized from many disciplines to promote prevention and increased patients s quality of life. The theory of social representations makes it possible to integrate academic and non-academic positions, allowing increase knowledge about the disease. Although the criticisms that have been made to the theory proposed by Serge Moscovici and the lack of research concerning the cancer representations and the treatments associated with this disease. This paper presents a theoretical review of illness s social representations; particularly those relating to cancer, traditional chemotherapy and oral chemotherapy, to provide a conceptual framework for understand how is seen cancer and their main treatments, both for the patient and different health professionals. Concluding that as humanities professionals it is our duty promotes the study and research of social representations of cancer and chemotherapy to develop changes in these representations, fostering a better attention of cancer patients and a better adaptation to the physical and social changes involving the disease.