title: Significations of being the caregiver of the companion with cancer: an existential look.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to unveil the significances of women who experience being the caregiver of their companion with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  a Heidegger's phenomenological research, performed with ten women who are caregivers of their companions with cancer in a town in the northwest of the state of Paraná, Brazil, from December 2013 to February 2014. The following guiding question was used: "How has it been for you to care for your companion with cancer?".
  
  
  RESULTS
  from the analysis of the speeches the following ontological themes emerged: "Taking responsibility of caring for the companion with cancer", "Learning to live with the intimacy changes" and "Learning to live with the feelings related to care". The data revealed the wives' sense of responsibilities for caring and the influence of feelings in the act of caring, including the impact on the couple's intimacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  in the midst of difficulties, the feelings of affection are the driving force behind these women to continue their actions as wife-caregivers.
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil.
authors: Kelly Cristine
authors: KC
authors: Piolli
authors: Programa Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brasil.
authors: Marcelo
authors: M
authors: Medeiros
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil.
authors: Catarina Aparecida
authors: CA
authors: Sales
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D017028:Caregivers; D004645:Empathy; D005086:Existentialism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*