Resumo

MARTINEZ SANCHEZ, Carmen María. Checkmate, cancer!. Index Enferm [online]. 2004, vol.13, n.46, pp.58-61. ISSN 1699-5988.

This article exposes a real history in a narrative way. The main character, Rosa, is a 18 years old girl who tells her vital experience and her personal and familiar journey along the suffering related to a terminal and stigmatized disease as cancer is. Also she tells how she leaves it behind. The contribution of this kind of narrative articles could help nurses to understand the suffering of patient's needs and appreciate the necessity of turning into a more human oriented health service, where socio-family environment and coping skills of patients are considered. The significance of Rosa´s experience helps to understand the complexity of human acts responses.