Confront and Resiliency of the Patients in the Chemotherapeutic Treatment and their Families

Abstract

Introduction: Chemotherapy causes numerous changes in the lives of patients and their families. Objective: to understand the process of copying with the disease and the resiliency of patients with cancer submitted to chemotherapeutic treatment and their families. Method: This is a qualitative study carried out through the analysis of a joint case and it also had as participants three in-patients and their families. Data collection occurred through the analysis of medical records and interviews. Results: The participants showed that the hospitalization process and adverse effects to treatment interfere with the family and social relationships. Participants showed they use two copying strategies: one focused on the problem and the other focused on emotion. Conclusion: The information we obtained by means of this research suggests that the treatment interferes with the way they cope with the disease and in the process of resiliency of these patients with cancer and their families. We could verify that the treatment contributes to the resiliency development, promoting a greater utilization of the protecting factors of the individuals.