<b>Reorganization of the family arrangement in the cancer condition</b> - doi: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v10i3.12655

Abstract

This study aimed to expand our understanding of the interaction that occurs in family systems of patients with cancer, who are suffering social vulnerability, and with their suprasystems. This article is part of a qualitative study, carried out with families assisted by a Family Health Care Program, which used Symbolic Interactionism and Grounded Theory as theoretical and methodological references. It was conducted between 2008 and 2009, in a countryside city in São Paulo. After identifying the characteristics of each family, through a questionnaire containing closed questions, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six families who are socially vulnerable.  The ongoing comparative analysis of the data revealed that families began to consider support providers as their family rather than next of relatives or the people they live with. Thus, we can conclude that the meaning of family was being constructed while the care was being received, during much suffering, in the social context of poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion. The interaction that occurs in the family subsystems and suprasystems directly affects what they consider the meaning of family to be and this affects their relationships. This study can be used as an information resource in caring for families of patients with cancer, who are socially vulnerable.