Responding to Scars After Breast Surgery

Slatman, Jenny; Halsema, Annemie; Meershoek, Agnes

doi:10.1177/1049732315591146

Cited by 33 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 50 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In any case, once a body-world relationship is recognized, there is a ramification of my body and a ramification of the world and a correspondence between its inside and my outside, between my inside and its outside. (1968, p. might improve its performance, things that might furthermore be important for healing after illness (see Slatman, Halsema, & Meershoek, 2015).…”

Section: F I G U R Ementioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond the absent body—A phenomenological contribution to the understanding of body awareness in health and illness

Dahlberg

2019

Nursing Philosophy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Starting from a phenomenological understanding of the body, this article discusses the understanding of body awareness in health and illness. I question the common way to understand our relationship to our bodies in terms of subjective and objective perspectives on it, and furthermore, how this opposition has been used in the phenomenological literature to outline an understanding of health and illness as states where the body stays unnoticed versus resurfaces to our attention as dysfunctional. Using examples from an ongoing interview study, I argue for an understanding of the dialectical interplay between body and world in our awareness, and how it can be understood as an approaching or distancing movement to body and world. I furthermore describe how the interplay between body and world effects and is effected by our existence in health and illness. Finally, I suggest what implications this new way of understanding the lived body has for health care practice in general, and for the development of a person‐centred care in particular. I suggest that we leave the dichotomous understanding of subjective and objective perspectives behind, and start to investigate how we move between different kinds of body awareness in health and illness. Illness, as a situation where that which has been taken for granted becomes questioned, can be said to be characterized by mistrust, and by a distancing from world and body. It is thus of importance for caregivers to provide the time, space and trusting atmosphere needed in order to make the approaching movement possible.

show abstract

Section: F I G U R Ementioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond the absent body—A phenomenological contribution to the understanding of body awareness in health and illness

Dahlberg

2019

Nursing Philosophy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A recent example of this in the domain of qualitative research can be found in Slatman and colleagues’ study of how women cope with their mastectomy scars (Slatman, Halsema, & Meershoek, ). Drawing on Husserl's, Sartre's and Merleau‐Ponty's phenomenological analyses of the body, the authors suggest that it might be necessary to refine the phenomenological distinction between the body as object and the body as subject and reconsider the standard prioritization of the non‐objectified body.…”

Section: Phenomenology In Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…As they argue, in some cases, nurses might actually help the patients deal with their illness or loss by adopting an objectifying perspective on the patient's body. By touching and investigating the mastectomy scars together with the patients, nurses might, for instance, help them regain a new sense of bodily normality (Slatman et al, : 1623).…”

Section: Phenomenology In Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

The practice of phenomenology: The case of Max van Manen

Zahavi

2019

Nursing Philosophy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Since its inception, phenomenological philosophy has exerted an influence on empirical science. But what is the best way to practice, use and apply phenomenology in a non‐philosophical context? How deeply rooted in phenomenological philosophy must qualitative research be in order to qualify as phenomenological? How many of the core commitments of phenomenology must it accept? In the following contribution, I will take a closer look at Max van Manen's work. I will argue that van Manen's understanding of and presentation of phenomenology is quite problematic and that his book Phenomenology of Practice rather than amounting to a clear and accessible presentation of the phenomenological method that would make it do‐able to researchers who are not themselves professional philosophers is in fact both abstruse and excessively complicated. I will then turn to nursing, and by taking that as my example, outline a better way to apply and practice phenomenology.

show abstract

“…For example, Manderson and Stirling reported one participant “walking around feeling like an absolute monster” (p85), whilst another woman described “when you look in the mirror and see this one‐breasted creature” (p88). However, research also highlights positive reactions, with some participants describing satisfaction with scars and the aesthetic outcome: “this has been done nicely … yes, it is tight, really very tight: very beautiful.” (p1618) and perceiving their scars as symbols of triumph, “… my war wounds of life” (p1485). Yet, whilst the focus of these studies has been on longer term outcomes, there is a distinct lack of research into women's initial experiences of seeing the early postoperative results of breast cancer‐related surgery.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women's initial experiences of their appearance after mastectomy and/or breast reconstruction: A qualitative study

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: Surgical procedures intended to treat breast cancer or reduce risk of developing the disease typically result in changes to appearance and scarring of the breast area, and any donor sites. The longer-term impact of these changes on body image and quality of life are well documented, but research in this field has failed to explore women's initial experiences of their appearance after surgery. This study used a qualitative approach to gain insight and better understand the experiences of women at this time point in their treatment pathway. Methods: Women (n=128) who had undergone mastectomy and/or breast reconstruction following a diagnosis of breast cancer or to reduce their risk of developing the disease completed an online survey. Open-ended questions asked participants about their experiences when seeing the postsurgical appearance of their breast/breast area (and donor site, if relevant) for the first time, and the support available to them.Results: Thematic analysis generated four key themes: "preparedness and support,""first thoughts and emotions," "loss and grief," and "the reaction of others." Conclusions:There was considerable variability in women's experiences. Some felt prepared and emotionally supported at this time, whilst others felt this element of care was missing. The findings suggest that there is a need to ensure all women are informed and have the necessary support when looking at the results of their surgery for the first time. Areas for improvement were proposed, including preoperative discussions, increased preparation and support. This could potentially contribute to better patient outcomes overall.

show abstract

Responding to Scars After Breast Surgery

Cited by 33 publications

References 50 publications

Beyond the absent body—A phenomenological contribution to the understanding of body awareness in health and illness

Beyond the absent body—A phenomenological contribution to the understanding of body awareness in health and illness

The practice of phenomenology: The case of Max van Manen

Women's initial experiences of their appearance after mastectomy and/or breast reconstruction: A qualitative study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About