Edición N°19 – Artículo 10
Viviendo con cáncer: desafíos, esperanza y avances médicos
Living with cancer: challenges, hope, and medical advances
Autora: Samantha Romina Mosquera Cordero (Unidad Educativa Luisa de Jesús Cordero)
Resumen
El cáncer es una enfermedad mortal que afecta a cientos de personas en todo el mundo. Se caracteriza por la diseminación de células malignas que forman tumores y dañan los órganos y tejidos del cuerpo. Dependiendo de la etapa en la que se diagnostique y de las partes del cuerpo en las que se haya diseminado, la tasa de supervivencia puede aumentar o disminuir. Esta enfermedad puede presentarse en niños, jóvenes y adultos. En el Ecuador, existen aproximadamente 30 888 casos registrados de personas con esta enfermedad, según datos del Ministerio de Salud Pública del Ecuador (2023). Uno de los tipos de cáncer con mayor prevalencia es el cáncer de mama. Según el Ministerio de Salud Pública del Ecuador (2020), este es el tipo de cáncer con la mayor tasa de supervivencia, alcanzando un 90,5 %. Esta enfermedad afecta al tejido mamario debido al crecimiento descontrolado de células, lo que provoca la formación de tumores. En el Ecuador, el cáncer de mama representa aproximadamente el 23 % de los casos totales de cáncer. Aunque afecta principalmente a mujeres, también se han registrado casos en hombres, aunque estos son menos frecuentes. El objetivo de esta investigación es compartir la experiencia vivida a través de mi madre, explorando los desafíos que enfrentó como paciente con cáncer y la manera en que esta enfermedad afectó a todo su entorno familiar. A lo largo de este trabajo se abordará cómo el cáncer genera un impacto tanto emocional como físico en el paciente y en las personas que lo rodean. Además, se busca demostrar que, aunque el cáncer suele asociarse con la muerte, con un tratamiento adecuado y el apoyo necesario es posible superarlo y continuar llevando una vida con normalidad.
Palabras clave: cáncer, tratamiento, resiliencia, impacto emocional.
Abstract
Cancer is a life-threatening disease that affects hundreds of people worldwide. It is characterized by the spread of malignant cells that form tumors and damage the body’s organs and tissues. Depending on the stage at which it is diagnosed and the parts of the body where it has spread, the survival rate may increase or decrease. This disease can occur in children, young people, and adults. In Ecuador, there are approximately 30,888 registered cases of people with this disease, according to data from the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador (2023). One of the most prevalent types of cancer is breast cancer. According to the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador (2020), this is the type of cancer with the highest survival rate, reaching 90.5%. This disease affects breast tissue due to uncontrolled cell growth, which leads to the formation of tumors. In Ecuador, breast cancer accounts for approximately 23% of all cancer cases. Although it primarily affects women, cases have also been recorded in men, though these are less frequent. The objective of this research is to share the lived experience through my mother, exploring the challenges she faced as a cancer patient and the way this disease affected her entire family environment. Throughout this work, we will address how cancer generates both an emotional and physical impact on the patient and those around them. Furthermore, it seeks to demonstrate that, although cancer is often associated with death, with proper treatment and the necessary support, it is possible to overcome it and continue leading a normal life.
Keywords: cancer, treatment, resilience, emotional impact.
Edición N°19
Fecha de publicación: 28 noviembre del 2025.
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