title: Meanings of quality of life held by patients with colorectal cancer in the context of chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  this study's aim was to interpret the meanings assigned to quality of life by patients with colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  the ethnographic method and the medical anthropology theoretical framework were used. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and participant observations with 16 men and women aged from 43 to 75 years old undergoing chemotherapy in a university hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the meanings and senses describe biographical ruptures, loss of normality of life, personal and social suffering, and the need to respond to chemotherapy's side effects; chemotherapy is seen as a transitional stage for a cure. Quality of life is considered unsatisfactory because the treatment imposes personal and social limitations and QoL is linked to resuming normal life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the meanings show the importance of considering sociocultural aspects in the conceptualization and assessment of quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Luciana Scatralhe
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Buetto
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Marcia Maria Fontão
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zago
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life