O cuidar de uma pessoa que adoece por câncer: vivências de cuidadores familiares

Abstract

This research aims to understand the experiences of family caregivers of a person with cancer during their illness process. This is a qualitative descriptive study, developed in a municipality in northwestern Rio Grande do Sul. For data collection, semi-structured interviews with nine family caregivers of people with cancer were used. The interviews were conducted from February to June 2019 and took place at the participants´ homes, recorded and transcribed in full. Data analysis followed the thematic analysis steps. The results showed that after the illness of one of the family members due to cancer, it was necessary to elect a main caregiver, designated by the other family members, the sick person or the caregiver´s own desire. There was changes in the daily dynamics of the caregiver, evidenced by the abandonment of their job, their personal tasks and personal life to give exclusive attention to the patient, resulting in overload. Several expressions were identified by the family caregiver, such as fear, despair, crying, helplessness, worry and depressive symptoms. The support networks adopted by family caregivers were spirituality, family, neighbors and friends, health professionals and institutions, which contributed to minimize the overload. It is concluded that care should be provided to people with cancer and their family caregivers, as the disease also compromises the family.