Representaciones sociales del cáncer y de la quimioterapia en pacientes oncológicos

Abstract

This is a qualitative study whose aim was to analyze the social representations (SR) of cancer and chemotherapy in adult cancer patients, specifically exploring the knowledge, describing the field of representation and attitudes of cancer patients towards these two representation objects and analyzingthe experience of these patients in the disease process. 40 cancer patients participated voluntarily, some of whom were interviewed in depth and all performed an exercise of free association. The analysis was conducted by categorizing and triangulating the data, which were interpreted according to the theoretical framework of the Theory of Social Representations (TRS), specifically the procedural perspective. It was found that the SR of cancer and chemotherapy remain negative so that this explains that even today suffering and anxiety responses in those who are diagnosed with cancer undergoing chemotherapy are maintained.