Ser acompanhante de uma pessoa com câncer: olhar e compreensão de si a partir de Paul Ricoeur.

Abstract

The nursing care to cancer patient covers the patient and the family as an inseparable binomial to be careful. They are inserted in a global context of various faces, emotional, social, economic and cultural experiences which should be taken into account to face the situation. The person accompanying the cancer patient is important in the process to which the patient will be submitted. It is he who often promotes, encourages and helps with words, with his physical presence, with their cares and provides to the patient a view that is necessary to proceed and remain in the treatment for obtaining a better quality of life and often a possibility of healing. Therefore this study had aimed to: Reporting the experiences of being companion of a person with cancer under the perspective of hermeneutics of the self-proposed by Paul Ricoeur; and, Understand the world of being companion of a person with cancer from the narrative itself. The construction of the theoretical framework addressed the nursing care and palliative care to people with cancer, besides being presented the fundamentals of Si Hermeneutics in Paul Ricoeur that guide the methodology. This is a survey based on Hermeneutics him proposed by Paul Ricoeur, the experience report mode, with a qualitative approach. The report involves two autobiographical moments, namely: 1. The experience of being a companion of a person with cancer before entering in the nursing degree; 2- The understanding of the world of being escort from the narrative of lived experience. The analysis was structured in five categories of discussion: Be the companion the unknown world of cancer; The accompanying unselfishness in making decisions about yourself; The humanization in caring for the other: understanding the role of being companion and the network of support; The vulnerability of being companion: fear, anguish and faith; Walking with the marks of the uniqueness of life. In that way, this autobiographical work shows that a chronic and terminal disease, with emphasis on a cancer constitutes a frightening experience for both the patient, their companion and their family, since his diagnosis. This experience is characterized by an intense process of physical, psychological, social and spiritual suffering, plus the persistent search for the healing and hope. In the field of assistance to cancer patients, the companion enables the humanization of the care, offering protection from a genuine relationship of acceptance, compassion and solidarity. Equally, the realization of a humanized care, holistic, to watch out for the person with cancer which requires a support network of employees, whether professionals or volunteers inside and outside health institutions. From this report, it was possible realises contributions that nursing can provide in the care of the person with cancer in a humanised and focused assistance focused on the needs of the binomial patient-companion, from initial care in the diagnostic process, the hospital routine until the preparation for care in death and afterdeath with the companion.