The diagnosis of breast cancer permanently affects the woman's life, however there are special characteristics related to each stage of the disease which need to be considered. Studies about breast cancer, nevertheless, do not emphasize the rehabilitation period (post-treatment). The aim of this descriptive study was to investigate the stress events present in the lives of breast cancer patients during their post-treatment period. The sample was composed of 16 women who were assisted at a specialized rehabilitation service for women who had mastectomies in 2003. Data was collected through individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The content analysis technique was used for data analysis. The results indicated the presence of physical stressors related to the treatment, such as movement limitations and lymphedema, giving rise to the appearance of the fear of the disease relapsing and alterations of the body image. The results reinforce the importance of providing psychosocial rehabilitation to this population.
Breast neoplasms; Rehabilitation; Stress, Psychological; Mental health; Adaptation, psychological
