Childhood cancer:

the father's experience

Authors

  • Giselle Dupas Universidade Federal de São Carlos – UFSCar, Departamento de Enfermagem. São Carlos, SP - Brasil. Professora Associada.
  • Aliane Callegari Silva Universidade Federal de São Carlos – UFSCar, Curso de Enfermagem. São Carlos, SP - Brasil. Enfermeira.
  • Michelle Darezzo Rodrigues Nunes Universidade Federal de São Carlos – UFSCar, Curso de Enfermagem. São Carlos, SP - Brasil. Enfermeira.
  • Noeli Marchioro Liston Andrade Ferreira Universidade Federal de São Carlos – UFSCar, Departamento de Enfermagem. São Carlos, SP - Brasil. Professora associada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5935/2316-9389.2012.v16.50292

Keywords:

Paediatric Nursing, Chronic Illness, Neoplasms, Family

Abstract

Recently acquired paternity values emphasize the father's role in improving the children's quality of life. In the context of this new concept in parenting, the present study aims to understand the experience of fathers of children with cancer and to identify the changes the disease produced in their way of facing fatherhood. Symbolic Interactionism and Grounded Theory were used as theoretical and methodological framework, respectively. Data was collected through semi-structure interviews. Data analysis identified the following theoretical categories: "Perceiving oneself as father of a child with cancer", "Losing the balance", "Seeking strength", "Adapting to a new life" and "Becoming a better person". The research revealed that the suffering and fear of losing a child makes the father adjust his relationship with the child according to the unexpected; he becomes more involved and assigns more importance to being a father.

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Published

2012-09-01

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 3 (2012)

Section

Research

License

Copyright (c) 2012 Reme: Revista Mineira de Enfermagem

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

1.
Dupas G, Silva AC, Nunes MDR, Ferreira NMLA. Childhood cancer:: the father’s experience. REME Rev Min Enferm. [Internet]. 2012 Sep. 1 [cited 2026 Oct. 17];16(3). Available from: https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/reme/article/view/50292

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