A experiência da maternidade durante o tratamento para o câncer

The aim of this study was to investigate the experience of motherhood of women with cancer with at least one child less than 10 years. From a qualitative exploratory design, interviews were conducted with ten mothers, audio-recorded and transcribed. The content analysis identified five thematic categories: 1) Being a mother is... being afraid of death/cancer recurrence and leaving their child orphan; 2) Being a mother is... changing the values/meaning of life after illness; 3) Being a mother is... changing the family routine/child routine; 4) Being a mother is... having conflict/defeat/ambivalent feelings; 5) Being a mother is... having difficulties to attend their children. Two independent judges evaluated the mothers' speeches. It was observed that cancer and motherhood experience overlap and intensify the suffering of these mothers. At the same time, both experiences place those women in a situation that led them to re-signify their lives and their priorities, which can enhance mother-child relationship in a positive way.