O conviver com a mastectomia

Abstract

The present study aims at tiying to understand the wais in which womem react to the experience of being mastectomized, to investigate how they interact with themselves and with others, and to study the interpretative processes used by womem for the transformation of meanings. Interviews were carried out with twentytwo womem who had suffered mastectomy. Their clinicai histoiy was also studied through their records, and their expressive behaviour carefully observed. A great diversity of meanings was obtained through these procedures, but they were centered around the following themes: remembering the discovery; recalling the surgical process; and progressing toward rehabilitation. The data were analised in an interationistic approach, and made it quite clear that the subjects live in a world full of worries and difficulties, especially conceming the physical, mental and social contexts. The study also revealed a very thoughtful attitude in the women's behaviour, which indicates that they are able to indicate ways of transforming the are going through.