Seeking cancer treatment for their children: experience of parents from areas distant from Lima-Peru

Objective: To understand the experiences of parents of children with cancer who come from areas distant from Lima-Peru during the search for cancer treatment for their children. Method: A descriptive-exploratory qualitative approach study. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were carried out. The sample consisted of 18 parents who come from remote areas from Lima who attended specialized hospitals. The qualitative analysis was of thematic content, proposed by Minayo. Results: Three categories emerged: Accessing cancer care in Lima hospitals; Having diverse personal experiences during their child’s treatment; and Reporting the socioeconomic and labor impact during their stay in Lima. Final considerations: Understanding these experiences could help health professionals to implement strategies of socioeconomic support to facilitate access to health services for children with cancer. Hospitals must guarantee the satisfaction of the basic needs of parents.