Experiences of young mastectomised Colombian women: An ethnographic study

The stigma in patients with breast cancer: A concept analysis

“…Because of surgery and other related treatments, BCPs would experience breast loss, surgical scar, alopecia, blackened and hardened nails, fatigue, decreased sexual desire, sexual dysfunction, and menopausal-like syndrome. 3 , 5 , 7 , 15 , 29 , 30 Patients usually believe that these symptoms destroy the identity of a traditional female, thereby affecting their external beauty and femininity, 26 damaging the normal function of the breast, reducing the hormone level, and finally, causing physiological dysfunction.…”

“…The most common negative emotions include ashamed, 9 , 33 , 34 self-contemptuous, 9 , 35 miserable, and frightened. 29 , 36 , 37 For example, breast loss and discrimination by others make BCPs feel ashamed and self-contemptuous. Postoperative pain and treatment make BCPs feel miserable.…”