Itinerário terapêutico de mulheres com câncer do colo do útero

Abstract

Brazil has made increased efforts to improve the efficiency of prevention programs and treatment of cancer of the cervix, aiming to modify the high incidence and mortality from this cancer, however the measures taken have not achieved the expected results. The study aimed to analyze the therapeutic itinerary of women with cervical cancer in the search for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. It was adopted as methodological approach, the qualitative approach and the method "Life Story" by open interviews. The interviewees were women in treatment for cancer of the cervix in a hospital specializing in cancer treatment, located in a municipality of Minas Gerais. The data were analyzed after categorization issue. It was adopted as a theoretical analysis to support the concepts of integrity and interface culture / health / disease. Became evident several reasons why most women do not prevention. Among them, we emphasize the concept that emerged out of health, disease and prevention, lack of knowledge about preventive examinations, the cultural and social factors against gender, quality of care and organization of health services. Most sought diagnosis after realizing significant signs of physiological disorder. Some had access to public services, while others did not have the appropriated care regarding risk evaluation. The diagnosis sparked painful feelings of hopelessness and finitude. Religiosity was support at this difficult time. It appeared that women had insufficient knowledge about the disease, staging, treatment, therapeutic possibilities, and little preparation for dealing with side effects and/or therapeutic consequences, creating insecurity, anxiety, uncertainty and fear. Despite advances in legislation, in practice, women face many difficulties in coping with cancer of the cervix, since its prevention, diagnosis and treatment, especially those most in need of financial resources and information; situation aggravated by the aggressiveness of treatment and the cultural issues surrounding the disease. These difficulties are translated by a fragmented service, without the integration of actions and treatment, provided many times in a impersonal way, without access to information and being their health needs not always guaranteed. It is felt that the issue of prevention is not just a choice but a decision involving .emotions, experiences, knowledge and circumstances, mediated by social, cultural, political, and economic evaluations of the responses obtained in the service, being held among the possibilities available. It was evident that accessibility, reception and humanization, are principles not yet embedded in all services of the Unified Health System. These difficulties could be alleviated by better management of work processes involving the continuing education of professionals and health education for women, besides better management of health policies in order to comply with the law, ensuring access and integrality in the actions.