Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Research Paper

The Lived Experience of Body Alteration and Body Image with Regard to Immediate Breast Reconstruction among Women with Breast Cancer: Ahn, Jeonghee , Suh, Eunyoung E.; J Korean Acad Nurs 2021;51(2):245-259. Published online April 30, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.21028

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of body alteration and body image with regard to immediate breast reconstruction among women with breast cancer.
Methods
Data were collected from July to December 2020 through individual in-depth interviews with 15 women who had undergone immediate breast reconstruction due to breast cancer. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis.
Results
The following four theme clusters emerged. First, “revalued meaning of breasts due to cancer” illustrated the fact that cancer removal surgery brought the participants to reconsider the meaning of their breasts. Second, “had no choice but breast reconstruction” demonstrated the participants’ decision-making process of not wanting to lose breasts. Third, “unsatisfied breasts despite reconstruction” portrayed the distress due to the unexpected surgical outcomes. Finally, “restarted everyday routines with the altered body” described the healing process of the participants by accepting their changed body.
Conclusion
In Korea, where family-centeredness and fidelity are highly valued, women perceived their breasts not only as a symbol of femininity but as the mediator connecting the self to family. Despite the distress related to imperfect breasts, the participants were thankful for their reconstructed breasts. Breast reconstruction helped them return to daily life as the psychological trauma of breast cancer was healed. The participants rebuilt their body image by accepting their scarred new body. This may allow health professionals to provide constructive and culturally appropriate counseling in advance by providing insight into women’s perception of their body image with regard to breast reconstruction.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Categorising Subjective Perceptions of Middle-Aged Breast Cancer Patients Using Q Methodology
Min-Jeung Shim, Song-Yi Lee, Oh-Sun Ha
Healthcare.2024; 12(18): 1873. CrossRef
Body Acceptance Scale for Women with Breast Cancer: Development and Validation of a Measurement
Jeonghee Ahn, Eunyoung E. Suh
Seminars in Oncology Nursing.2023; 39(5): 151486. CrossRef
Influence of body image on quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing breast reconstruction: Mediating of self‐esteem
Yunhee Jang, Mihyeon Seong, Sohyune Sok
Journal of Clinical Nursing.2023; 32(17-18): 6366. CrossRef
Body acceptance in women with breast cancer: A concept analysis using a hybrid model
Jeonghee Ahn, Eunyoung E. Suh
European Journal of Oncology Nursing.2023; 62: 102269. CrossRef
A systematic review and meta-analysis on the prepectoral single-stage breast reconstruction
Jiameng Liu, Xiaobin Zheng, Shunguo Lin, Hui Han, Chunsen Xu
Supportive Care in Cancer.2022; 30(7): 5659. CrossRef

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