The communication of breast cancer diagnosis in patient and physician perspective: a phenomenological study

Abstract

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women. Among the recommended treatments, the surgery to remove the breast lump implies in the mutilation of a part of the body which is symbolically associated with femininity, sexuality and maternity, causing a break in self-esteem and recognition of mastectomies like women It is considered that this traumatic event can produce physical and psychological scars on the affected women impacting their quality of life, especially in terms of the organization of daily, family and social life, which implies above generally the need to adapt to new conditions of existence and to creat a new identity. Thus it is clear that at diagnosis, specifically in breast cancer, many feelings are experienced among which stand out the hopelessness, anxiety and fear, which will probably impact of the diagnosis regarded as an extremely significant experience that influences all the process until the rehabilitation of the patient. In addition health professionals are considered important elements in fighting cancer, especially when reporting about the disease and its evolution, as well as comfort and encourage women during diagnosis and treatment. Thus, this study aims to understand the experience of the communication process of diagnosis of breast cancer from the perspective of the woman who receives and the doctor who informs it. This is a descriptive study, exploratory, prospective and supported in qualitative research methodology. Will participate in the study women who are in the diagnostic investigation process and have receive the confirmation of breast cancer and the respective doctors responsible for communicating the diagnosis. Participants will be recruited from the industry Mastology and Gynecologic Oncology Unit of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital of Ribeirão Preto - HCFMRP. The instruments used is the phenomenological interview, which will be developed from a research question, participant observation and the field diary. There will be an immersion in the field and the researcher will monitor the entire diagnostic process, from prior to the announcement, during and after the treatment. Interviews with the dyad will be performed after diagnosis, respecting the emotional and time availability of the participants. Those will be fully transcribed and analyzed according to the steps recommended by the phenomenological research highlighting, at first, the themes found from the statements of each of the respondents in a vertical analysis of the material. Later, perform will be a horizontal analysis of all the interviews, listing the points of convergence and divergence between the lines, also before the themes constructed from the reports of the volunteers. Finally, triangulation of data will be made which will cover the interviews of women diagnosed with breast cancer, the interviews of doctors and the data obtained from participant observation, found in the field diary. Finally, the procedures recommended for analysis and interpretation of data guided the theoretical framework of phenomenological psychology will be used. (AU)