The objective of this study was to understand how the partners of mastectomized women perceived life after the surgery. The study is both descriptive and exploratory, and was conducted in 2006 with five men who lived with mastectomized women in Fortaleza, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were performed and the results were grouped into three analytic categories. We identified a level of misinformation about the illness, tranquility attributed to a faith in God, and a strong conviction that cancer and death are synonyms. Nursing/health professionals are responsible for providing knowledge about breast cancer and for fostering for integration between the woman and her partner, prioritizing a healthy life together.
Breast neoplasms; Mastectomy; Family relations; Spouses; Oncologic nursing