Childhood cancer: the father's experience

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.