Restoring wholeness: Women's embodied experiences in considering post-mastectomy delayed breast reconstruction

This qualitative inquiry reports on the embodied experience of women with breast cancer considering post-mastectomy delayed breast reconstruction (DBR). In a pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating an educational workshop on decision-making about DBR, a purposeful sample of eight women particip...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cogent social sciences 2018, Vol.4 (1), p.1479478
Main Authors: Cheng, Terry, Causarano, Natalie, Platt, Jennica, Jones, Jennifer M., Hofer, Stefan O.P., O'Neill, Anne C., Zhong, Toni
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
body image
Breast cancer
Breast reconstruction
Clinical trials
Decision making
Delayed
embodiment
Health care
Mastectomy
Psychosocial factors
treatment decision-making
Women
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Summary:This qualitative inquiry reports on the embodied experience of women with breast cancer considering post-mastectomy delayed breast reconstruction (DBR). In a pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating an educational workshop on decision-making about DBR, a purposeful sample of eight women participated in telephone semi-structured interviews. The concept of embodiment guided thematic analysis. The decision whether to undergo DBR involved four embodiment-related themes: living with an altered body, losing a sense of self, taking charge to reclaim the body and self, and rebuilding the body and self. Embodiment thus played a significant role in women's decision-making. Other psychosocial factors, however, may compete with embodiment motivations. Healthcare providers can help support women to see breast reconstruction as a legitimate means to restore their body and sense of self.
ISSN:2331-1886
2331-1886
DOI:10.1080/23311886.2018.1479478