Vivencia del duelo a partir de la recepción del diagnóstico positivoCáncer linfático: Estudio Cualitativo en Costa Rica

Cancer is a high complexity condition that has physical, emotional and social repercussions from the moment it is diagnosed. In the case of lymphatic cancer, the lack of available information for people increases the uncertainty and difficulty for comprehending the clinical process, adding an extra component of anguish. Bereavement associated with the illness is expressed in loss of autonomy, functioning and halted life projects. In Costa Rica, qualitative research on this population is limited, and often focuses on biomedical aspects of the illness. This study analyzed the life history of four people with lymphatic cancer through a semi-structured interview, revealing profound transformations in patient’s ways of understanding illness, and life in general. Also, the emergence of feelings of guilt, as well as a tendency to hide discomfort to not bother loved ones were observed. These findings point towards the need to strengthen psychosocial research of lymphatic cancer in the Costa Rican context.