Social representations of cancer and chemotherapy

Abstract

Objective: To review of the literature about social representations of cancer and chemotherapy. Method: For this review was made a search of the literature in specialized databases through keywords combination: theory of social representations, physical illness, cancer and chemotherapy. Results: We found that even in the 21st century, cancer continues to be subject to negative social representations as well as chemotherapy; there is an obvious deficit of research concerning the topic; a professional duty is to encourage research in this topic to promote these representations change both the patient,caregivers and healthcare professionals, providing better care to the cancer patient and consequently a better adaptation to the physical and social changes that involve the disease.