Body image transformation after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in southern Thai women

Abstract

Objective:To understand the transition of changed body image after the diagnosis and surgery in women with breast cancer.Methods:Semi-structured interview and focus group with narrative approach. Thematic analysis was performed using methodological and investigator triangulation methods.Results:Participants’ body image transformation was categorized into three phases: (1) the moment of diagnosis and changed self, (2) transition and recovery, and (3) normalization.Conclusion:The truth-telling process of breast cancer diagnosis and the freedom to choose their treatment options have a profound impact on body image transformation of women with breast cancer. Family support, social construction, and social support could help women with breast cancer pass through these transitional process faster, while inappropriate truth-telling by their surgeons and not having any choice in their treatment options will delay the transitional process.

Fears and barriers: problems in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Pakistan

“…Interviews also report that appearance-related issues resulting from breast cancer treatment were a major source of disruption of the women’s sense of self which affected their self-esteem and social functioning. Women with breast cancer go through a transition of changed body image after the diagnosis and surgery [ 47 ]. They need social and emotional support to deal with this renegotiation of their body identity.…”

Patient‐centred communication for women with breast cancer: Relation to body image perception

“…Thus, regular follow-up of this group of mastectomised patients has the potential to reduce their anxiety and distress, through education on side effects of treatment, on use of adaptive devices (e.g. breast forms) and regular psychological assessment and counselling (Guedes et al, 2018;Runowicz et al, 2016), resulting in adaptation to the new BI and gradual recovery from BI impairment over time (Peerawong et al, 2019). Collins et al (2011) noted that BI issues were more problematic for a group of mastectomy-without-BR patients than those who had undergone the surgery with BR in the first year following surgery.…”

“…According to findings of current study, there was no correlation between BI and marital status, as previously discussed (Cairo Notari et al., 2017; Kowalczyk et al., 2019). However, these women required medical support from healthcare providers and family members in order to feel normal again (Peerawong et al., 2019). Although women need support from their husbands after breast surgery in order to adapt to the new BI (Carr et al., 2019), no other studies found a link between marital status and BI but found a link between BI and the quality of sexual and emotional relationship (Cairo Notari et al., 2017; Kowalczyk et al., 2019).…”

Assessment of the predictive factors in body image of Iranian patients with breast cancer: Demographic factors

“…The prevalent ways of treatment of this disease are mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy. all of those treatments have important consequences such as hair loss, vomiting, weight loss, and less sexual functions and negatively affect pregnancy that cause depression and anxiety and effects on body image of patients [7,8]. Impaired body image (as one of the important psychological factors) effects on quality of life and causes reductions in all dimensions of health [9].…”