Coping religioso/espiritual e câncer de mama: possíveis articulações

Abstract

This research analyzes the influences of religious/spiritual coping (CRE) in confronting breast cancer. The goal was to do an updated bibliographic review about the positive CRE as a tool for confronting breast cancer, both in its curative aspects of prolonging life as well as in palliative care. It begins with the concepts of religious/spiritual coping and breast cancer and follows with description of manifestations of stress in the body and its influence on cancer, after which it presents spirituality and its practices as reducers of stress, especially around the dynamics of forgiveness. The various effects of CRE in confronting breast cancer are pointed out, such as improvement in quality of life, better adhesion to the treatment, greater disposition to fight and to recover from breast cancer and a more positive perspective of the future. Finally, one reflects on the importance of psychological practice being integrated with spirituality for patients with breast cancer who are indicated for palliative care.