Abstract
Objective
To identify the therapeutic itinerary of elderly cancer survivors since detection of signs and symptoms until the end of treatment.
Methods
Qualitative research with four elderly cancer survivors (two prostate cancer and two breast cancer patients), two men and two women aged between 73 and 81 years. Data collection was carried out through interviews developed in five visits to the collaborator’s households and with duration of 15 hours on average. Thematic content analysis was used.
Results
The journey experienced by the elderly starts with the discovery of signs and symptoms; the course towards the diagnosis in the Health System; the confirmation of cancer; surgery and chemotherapy and the inclusion of complementary and alternative practices in the itinerary.
Conclusion
The health care for cancer survivors demands intense articulation of the health system. In that sense, knowing the itinerary becomes a mechanism to qualify this assistance.
Neoplasms; Aged; Life change events; Health systems
