The purpose of this article is to analyze the nonverbal communication of the participants in a group of bowel cancer ostomy bearers. The type of the investigation was exploratory and observational. The investigation was carried out in a Teaching Hospital. The population was composed by 5 persons, bearing ostomy due to bowel cancer. There were 5 meetings in October and November of 2001. Data was gathered through video recording and field notes. Among the findings we remark the room small size forced the participants to maintain a very close distance that led in difficulties for their spontaneous expression. This article clarifies that the reading of the nonverbal communication enabled the understanding the universe of the investigated persons
nonverbal communication; social group; bowel neoplasia