Sentimentos e dificuldades vivenciados por familiares cuidadores de pacientes oncológicos em tratamento

Objective: to learn about relatives caregivers’ feelings of oncological patients against the sickness and sequent physic or psychological sufferings. Method: qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research. The study case is composed by six relatives of oncological patients. The results are based on interviews composed on semistructured questions, occurred in July 2007, and submitted to a thematic analysis. Results: the relatives feel sadness, jitters, fear, insecurity, weakness and loneliness. In other hand, the relative worries for the patient doesn’t realize these emotions. Concerning the treatment, the relatives bring uncountable benefits for the cancer victim. But, consequently changes of the relatives’ routine result in some ambivalent feelings. Conclusion: the cancer victim treatment brings many changes in the relatives’ lives and, thus, brings out emotional and financial troubles. Moreover, it’s important to know the caregiver feelings in order to improve both professional and personal behavior.Descriptors: Neoplasms; Family; Emotions