Breast cancer prevention: the contribution of social representations

Abstract

This work aims at making a contribution to breast cancer prevention campaigns. In order to reach this objective, it intends to approach the representations given to this disease by women of popular groups. According to the purpose of this work, a qualitative methodology was employed, using semi structured interviews and discussion groups as instruments. The material was followed up by Speech Analysis and Content Analysis. The results obtained indicate that women who participated in the study perceive breast cancer as an incurable disease that puts them into a situation of complete hopelessness. In their minds, cancer is a disease that exists in a latent status in all people and the factors that cause it are linked to situations, such as having the breast wounded or hurt or having not experienced breast feeding, might provoke the awakening process of this sleepy evil. This group relates surgery as the way of treating breast cancer. However, surgery results are mostly conceived as a process of accelerating the progress of the disease, rather than healing it. After the analysis of the material, it is concluded that the researched group has a different representation of breast cancer from the ones that support prevention campaigns. Therefore, changes are needed regarding the actions based on the representations of the target group if more effectiveness on the campaigns is to be attained. Furthermore, data gathered on the research suggests that some procedures might contribute to a better effectiveness concerning preventive measures.