title: [How the family acts regarding the health-disease process of a family member with breast cancer].
abstract: Qualitative study performed with ten relatives of cancer patients in two clinics located in Feira de Santana-BA, aiming at analyzing how the family thinks, feels, and acts concerning the disease. Data was collected by means of a semi-structured interview and analyzed by dialectic hermeneutics. Results showed that most interviewees associated cancer and death, and the first reaction concerning the disease was unexpected, with a feeling that "the world has fallen". With time, there appeared hope, solidarity and faith to face the disease; however, they regarded emotional support as critical for the treatment. Family experience regarding breast cancer was seen as a "life change" in individuals, in emotional, religious and biological terms. Such changes showed the need for support groups to help patients and their relatives to face the disease.
authors.affiliation: Curso de Enfermagem da Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (UEFS).
authors.forename: Jorgéria da Silva
authors.initials: Jda S
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Maria Angela Alves
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: do Nascimento
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic