Repercussões na sexualidade de mulheres em tratamento para as neoplasias da mama: enfoque na teoria da adaptação

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among the world's female population. Its treatment encompasses local interventions (surgeries and radiotherapy) and / or systemic (chemotherapy and hormone therapy). Such interventions affect women in various areas of life and may directly interfere with their sexuality and quality of life, since for women the breast means more than just a part of the body, being closely associated with femininity, motherhood and sexuality. Therefore, this study aims to describe the repercussions that involve sexuality during the treatment of breast neoplasms. This is a qualitative, descriptive, exploratory study, approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Alagoas, based on the opinion of the rapporteur of the CAAE case 57322316.5.1001.5013, carried out with fifteen women in treatment of breast neoplasms in the Center for High Complexity in Oncology (CACON), Professor Alberto Antunes University Hospital (HUPAA), Maceió-AL. The data collection took place from February to April 2017 through the individual application of a semi-structured interview that was recorded and later transcribed. The data were submitted to the technique of thematic analysis of Maria Cecília de Souza Minayo and discussed according to the nursing theory of Callista Roy (theory of adaptation). Thus it became possible to identify two thematic units: Negative repercussions for sexuality during the treatment of breast neoplasms and Positive repercussions for sexuality during the treatment of breast neoplasms. The results showed that the majority of women have problems adapting to the new reality and that the body image is quite affected during the treatment. Feelings of sadness, shame, rejection, dissatisfaction, fear and mutilation have been described in most of the speeches, configuring negative repercussions that can directly affect the self-esteem and sexuality of these women. However, it has been observed that the sexuality of the woman in treatment is not necessarily affected, since depending on her capacity for adaptation and coping, the woman expresses feelings of hope, shows courage and is able to identify gains amid some losses, making this period of change and growth, characterizing positive repercussions that can directly influence sexuality. Therefore, the way in which each woman experiences sickness directly influences their sexuality, in this way, the nursing professionals, together with the multiprofessional health team must be prepared for the infinite possibilities of experiences and experiences in relation to this theme.