Cáncer e identidades en el final de la vida

LUXARDO, N. Y ALONSO, P.

SCRIPTHA ETNOLOGICA

IUNA/CAEA

Año: 2009 vol. 31

0325-6669

Summary: This paper is focus on the daily life experiences of patients with terminal diseases. It analyses the broad “umbrella” of reactions and attitudes toward the lack of curative treatments, exploring the way people under these vital circumstances look for new meanings in order to be able to appropriate/negotiate the face of death.  Spiritual concerns, stresses of family life, suffering challenges, changes in priorities and also the interactions with health professionals are depicted from hermeneutic approaches. The study is based on ethnography and other qualitative research methods. The participants were selected among patients that were hospitalized in three Oncology Centres and Palliative Care Services of Buenos Aires (2003-2005).