MUJERES EN TRATAMIENTO DE CÁNCER, ACOGIDAS POR UN ALBERGUE DE APOYO: CIRCUNSTANCIAS Y PERSPECTIVAS DE CUIDADO DE ENFERMERÍA WOMEN RECEIVING CANCER TREATMENT SUPPORTED BY A HOUSING SUPPORT: CIRCUMSTANCES AND PERSPECTIVES IN NURSING CARE

A qualitative study based on the narratives of 13 Colombian women with different types of cancer, between 33 to 70 years old, who come from different regions, who have social security support, and who are helped by a hostel program while they have their treatment at Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia (INC) located in Bogota, was done to know their circumstances and their needs of nursing care. 8 of them have gynecological cancer; 5 live with breast cancer. In 4 of the cases the diagnostic was late; for all of them have been difficult to face their diagnostics associating it with a possible death; after, there came a stage of acceptation of their health reality and facing the facts. INC and the hostel program are significant social network for them. Being far from their families is a difficulty that comes with the relocation they have to do. Almost all of them look for being active; the psychosocial aspects is a priority among their needs; they want to improve in their disease knowledge and it is important for them to develop more abilities of self care to minimize adverse effects and symptoms. To enforce their support network and the interacting among them, as well to increase their perspectives to face their disease, are strategies that could add more sense in their daily life and to make stronger their mental health while they receive their treatments in the capital city.