La representación del cáncer en la persona enferma y en su familia. La implicación de sus significados en la comunicación familiar

Abstract

The diagnosis of a disease such as cancer, acts as a generator of crisis in the family nucle-us itself. The disease can be experienced by the family as a threat that distorts family routines and causes a need to adapt to this new situation of loss. The meanings given to illness signif-icantly condition the family coping strategy and tends to generate changes in family commu-nication. The objective of this research is to know the meanings given by the family to cancer disease and how this social and family disease representation affects family communication. In-depth interviews (semi-structured open interview) are the method used. The inter-views with relatives of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and assisted by the Department of Medical Oncology of the Institut Català d' Oncologia Badalona (ICO Bada-lona, at Barcelona) are performed.