Women submitted to cervix uteri cancer treatment: how they cope with reality

Abstract

Cervix uteri cancer is a problem of public health in Brazil, playing a major role in female morbidity and mortality in the country. The purpose of this study is to report how women with cervix cancer undergoing treatment face reality. Thirty patients undergoing treatment at the radiation therapy outpatient clinic of Instituto do Câncer do Ceará were interviewed in May of 2001. The results show that the disease cases changes in the daily living of the patients casing fear of reccurence Religious support helps then face the uncertainty of cure. The findings point to the need of educational actions, as the doubts and fear of women derive from poor quality of care, from primary to tertiary care facilities.