Breast oncology's rehabilitation program - CAISM: Psychology action

Abstract

The Breast Oncology's Rehabilitation Program began its work in 1986, being currently made up by a multidisciplinary team (Nursing, Physiotherapy, Medicine, Nutrition, Psychology and Social Service). Psychology has the therapeutic purpose of providing psychological support in a group to women in rehabilitation period after breast surgery. The group aims to facilitate the treatment environment humanization and exchange of experiences between the patients; providing information about specific health or treatment issues and lifestyle changes; promote the expression of fantasies, ideas, expectations and feelings related to the moment lived; collaborate to improve the adhesion to treatment. This study purpose is to describe the Psychology's action on the Breast Oncology's Rehabilitation Program at Hospital da Mulher Prof. Dr. José Aristodemo Pinotti - CAISM/UNICAMP. The groups take every fortnight, on Mondays, with approximate duration of 1 hour, not having a fixed amount of participants. However, it does not have a homogeneous nature: women with breast cancer diagnosis, who were recently submitted to breast surgery. The Psychology interventions have a reflection and support nature, oriented to the current treatment moment, the rehabilitation. Topics such as self-esteem, illness, treatment, family support, sexuality and life quality changes are discussed in the meetings, enabling the patients to manifest their experiences, fantasies and concerns freely. Thus, the importance of this service within the Breast Oncology's Rehabilitation Program is evident, since it provides women with strengthening and confrontation of the illness process.