Supportive social network to men who survived cancer: ethnographic case study

Abstract

Objective: To present the supportive social network of men who survived prostate cancer. Method: It is an ethnographic case study, which was carried out with two men that survived prostate cancer and had high rates of resilience. Data was collected at the patient's home from April to May 2012, through semi-structured in-depth interviews, participant observation and ecomap. Results: For data analysis, three sense unities were elaborated: "The role of man in the family", "Religious belief as a form of support" and "Physician-patient relationship: implications in man's survival to cancer". Conclusion: The family and the spirituality of these men are important supportive social networks when building their survival, as well an enlightening communication offered by health professionals, which helped to experience this process with greater security and tranquility