A sociabilidade no adoecimento por câncer de cabeça e pescoço

Abstract

Get ill from cancer is not an individual phenomenon, but a collective one. Ill patients, family members and professionals enter this journey together and the social interactions of these actors have an impact on clinical care. This study aimedto identify the perceptions of the patient, their caregivers and the health team in relation to the illness of head and neck cancer.The method used was a qualitative approach, and has as theoretical support the culture, and the concept of sociability. 15 participants were interviewed, including 5 health professionals, 5 caregivers and 5 patients with head and neck cancer, in a Brazilian radiotherapy service. Data were analyzed using the inductive thematic analysis technique, which culminated in the theme “In the webs of the subjectivity of care”. Among the perceptions, the sick highlight changes in food and voice, while caregivers show full dedication to their family and health professionals mention having empathy during care, and recognition of the need for multidisciplinary care. It was interpreted that the experience of cancer and its treatments are elements belonging to a cultural context produced from the diagnosis of the disease. In this context, there are at least three social actors, the patient, the family caregiver and the health professional, so the disease experience involves them.