Religious practices and surveillance mechanisms developed by patient families in the face of cancer

Abstract

Considering cancer as a disease that is present in people's imaginary as a synonym of death and suffering, usually loaded with negative images and concepts. The aim of the study was to know the religious practices as a mechanism of overcoming developed by relatives of cancer patients. The study was guided by the assumptions of the Theory of Social Representations. The research used the qualitative approach and included 30 relatives of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at a national referral federal hospital for cancer treatment. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews and analyzed through Bardin content analysis, systematized by Oliveira, with the aid of QRS Nvivo 2.0 software. Through the study, we learn that families develop religious practices to overcome suffering, which provides courage and strength to experience the adversities that the disease carries.