From mother to patient: the experience of motherhood in the context of cancer

Abstract

The diagnosis of cancer causes a crisis for the patient and his family. This impact is exacerbated when the patients are mothers, as the treatment affects the experience of motherhood. This study aimed to describe the experiences of women in relation to motherhood in the context of hospitalization for cancer. This is a qualitative, exploratory-descriptive and cross-sectional study, in which six women with children aged 3 to 9 years were interviewed. The results showed changes in motherhood after this diagnosis. Being a mother emerged as a central aspect of the participants' lives, with children being considered the greatest motivation for coping with the disease. Mothers demonstrated to be strongly bonded to their children and perceived good social support. It highlighted the difficulty of fulfilling the tasks of motherhood during treatment and the need of health professionals to assist patients in fulfilling these tasks, as far as possible in this context.