BACKGROUND: Professionals dealing with cancer are frequently identified with patient anxieties and fantasies. The deleterious effect of emotional involvement can be avoided by increasing the self knowledge of health professionals. OBJECTIVE: Examine psychological factors which lead health professionals to work with mastectomized patients. METHOD: Qualitative study conducted at Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto. Health professionals from a rehabilitation center for mastectomized patients (Rema) were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Prior experience with situations related to breast cancer might have influenced the professionals' choices. Hypotheses about unconscious mechanisms involved in this process were discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Health professionals who choose to work with mastectomized patients mainly do it for unconscious reasons.
Breast cancer; women; occupations in health