This study discusses the psychosocial characteristics of colostomy users' feelings. Qualitative research with colostomized patients that constituted one of the objectives of the Rectal Cancer Assessment (ACRE) study of the National Cancer Institute José Alencar Gomes da Silva -INCA. Data interpretation had as the main supposition the understanding that interpretations about one's body are characterized by speeches and representations. The feeling of shame was frequent in the testimonials. The shame of the colostomized body and the desire to hide it are associated with the negative feelings attributed to the "out-of-standard" body and the feces, collective and individual feelings that can be used as a basis for comparison in body interpretation. The colostomized body is still seen as a taboo, which intensifies feelings of isolation, abnormality, and not belonging, making it even more difficult to adapt, promote mental health and develop autonomy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.