From diagnosis to survival of pediatric cancer: Children's perspective

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the process from diagnosis to survival of cancer from the child's perspective. This study is exploratory with qualitative analysis of the data, based on an adaptation of story-board narrative research and use of thematic interpretation. A precocious maturity was revealed, through the children's understanding regarding the diagnosis, of the different phases of the treatment, and coping with the difficulties of co-existing with classmates and re-adapting to school after the end of treatment. The use of strategies to help the children to adopt attitudes which minimize and/or prevent the distress related to cancer is a role of the health team, considering as care not only clinical protocols but also criteria relevant to the existential dimension.