LA ESTRUCTURA REPRESENTATIVA DEL CÁNCEER SEGÚN LOS PROPIOS PORTADORES: MOSTRANDO SUS SENTIDOS Y DIMENSIONES

is charged with prejudices and stigmas. The aim of this study is to describe and analyze the structure of the representation of cancer among patients. This qualitative study, based on social representation theory, was conducted at a cancer treatment center in inland Rio de Janeiro State during the second semester of 2002 with 100 cancer patients. Data were collected by free evocation from the stimulus-term "cancer" and analyzed by EVOC software. The central nucleus is basically negative (illness, death and fear), while positive elements are observed in the contrast area (tranquility and life) and in the first peripheral area (cures and God). The representation can be seen to be constructed of tensions and oppositions. It was concluded that the representation may be undergoing a process of change and that it has four dimensions: conceptual, feelings, imagery and expectations.