Body Image of Women with Breast Cancer After Mastectomy: A Qualitative Research
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To gain a holistic and deep understanding about how mastectomy effects the body image of women who have breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample of this qualitative descriptive study consisted of twenty patients who underwent mastectomy procedures. Semi-structured interviews were conducted during the second week after mastectomy. Each interview was transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: After the mastectomy, the findings related to the women's body image and their experiences were specified as four main themes and seven sub-themes. The main themes were: meaning of the breast, mastectomy and me, my body image and body image changes, and social life. Most of the participants in this study stated that the breast meant femininity, beauty, and motherhood. It was found that the meaning of mastectomy varied according to individuals. Women used quite negative statements about their appearances. The participants also said that they felt that half themselves was missing, as individuals and women. The women stated that they preferred clothes that hid their lack of breast. Some of the participants mentioned that relations with their husbands were not like before, and they abstained from social interaction. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that mastectomy as a surgical treatment for breast cancer may negatively affect a woman's body image and her self-image.
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Qualitative research on women who underwent mastectomy has shown that surgery adversely affects women; women miss their self-image and body appearance; mastectomy had adverse effects on attire and intimacy with partners.
“Qualitative research done in this aspect on women who have undergone mastectomy has shown that the surgery adversely affects women. The research clearly showed that women miss their self-image and hence their body appearance due to mastectomy. Mastectomy had adverse effects on attire and intimacy with their partners. 38”
From Coping in Post-Mastectomy Breast Cancer Survivors and Need for Intervention: Systematic Review. (2023) · cites this paper as [38]
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“Approximately 30% to 40% of women with breast cancer must undergomastectomy, and the resulting change in appearance can lead to various types of psychosocial distress [1].”
BackgroundGfrerer, L., Winograd, J. M., Austen, W. G., & Valerio, I. L. (2022) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open · doi:10.1097/gox.0000000000004251 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
“Results: Our technique differs from previously described reinnervation techniques in several aspects: (1) the donor axon count is maximized by preserving the third to fifth lateral cutaneous nerves for coaptation to the nipple areola complex, (2) the reinnervation approach varies and is based on patient anatomy, (3) t…”
MethodElsous, A., Radwan, M., Najjar, S., Masad, A. A., & Rayya, M. A. (2023) · Acta Oncologica · doi:10.1080/0284186x.2023.2180326 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
“This point is highlighted and deeply discussed [33,43].”
BackgroundKedida, B. D., Mukacho, M. M., Alemayehu, M. A., Samuiel, S., Kussa, S., Sisay, Y., Markos, D., & Minuta, W. M. (2024) · BMC Women s Health · doi:10.1186/s12905-024-03016-z · Cited by 17 · see citing works
“This finding aligns with other study findings in which women used quite negative statements about their appearances after mastectomy [14, 29].”
BackgroundResultWu, Q., Yin, Y., Wáng, Q., Wang, S., & Jia, X. (2021) · Nursing Open · doi:10.1002/nop2.884 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
“Particularly, loss of symmetry (caused by the removal of an entire breast) and the obvious change in physical appearance can cause changes in people's body image (Koçan & Gursoy, 2016).”
BackgroundImpact of Mastectomy on Body Image and Sexuality from a LGBTQ Perspective: A Narrative Review
Skórzewska, M., Kurylcio, A., Rawicz‐Pruszyński, K., Chumpia, W., Punnanan, B., Jirapongvanich, S., Jiang, T., & Mielko, J. (2021) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm10040567 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
“My body, my choice”: A qualitative study of women’s mastectomy with flat closure experiences
Tyner, T. E., Freysteinson, W. M., Evans, S. C., & Woo, J. (2023) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.07.009 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Brandt‐Salmeri, A., & Przybyła-Basista, H. (2019) · Health Psychology Report · doi:10.5114/hpr.2019.84213 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Supportive care needs: An aspect of Thai women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy
Klungrit, S., Thanasilp, S., & Jitpanya, C. (2019) · European Journal of Oncology Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2019.05.008 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Celenay, S. T., Uçurum, S. G., & Kaya, D. Ö. (2019) · Clinical Breast Cancer · doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2019.10.003 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Coping in Post-Mastectomy Breast Cancer Survivors and Need for Intervention: Systematic Review.
Mishra, A., Nair, J., & Sharan, A. M. (2023) · Breast Cancer Basic and Clinical Research · doi:10.1177/11782234231209126 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“38 Such studies which have been done in different countries have shown a similar observation of loss of self-esteem and negative perception of body image post-surgery.”
BackgroundTargeted Nipple Reinnervation in Gender-affirming Mastectomy Using Autologous Nerve Graft
Truong, A. Y.-Q., Chinta, M. S., Chen, Y., Black, G. G., Valerio, I. L., & Gfrerer, L. (2023) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open · doi:10.1097/gox.0000000000005203 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Flanagan, M. W., Goltz, H. H., Henson, J. W., & Smith, M. L. (2021) · Journal of Psychosocial Oncology · doi:10.1080/07347332.2021.1899353 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“These physical problems can then lead to reports of emotional problems related to body image and mood disturbances, which in turn exacerbate problems in other areas, increasing overall distress.(35) In these cases, efficient and effective communication between members of the medical team can greatly decrease time to r…”
BackgroundPosttreatment Experiences of Breast Cancer Survivors in Turkey: A Qualitative Study
Koçak, A. T., Arslan, S., & İlik, Y. (2022) · Seminars in Oncology Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2022.151351 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Jang, Y., Seong, M., & Sok, S. R. (2023) · Journal of Clinical Nursing · doi:10.1111/jocn.16621 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
ter Stege, J. A., Woerdeman, L. A. E., Kieffer, J. M., Sherman, K. A., van Rentergem, J. A. A., van Duijnhoven, F. H., van Huizum, M. A., Gerritsma, M. A., Kuenen, M. A., Corten, E. M. L., et al. (2023) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery · doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000011100 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Remy, K., Packowski, K., Alston, C. C., Kozanno, L. N., Carruthers, K. H., Tomczyk, E., Winograd, J. M., Austen, W. G., Valerio, I. L., & Gfrerer, L. (2024) · Annals of Surgery · doi:10.1097/sla.0000000000006192 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
“5,6 11 – 13 Simultaneously, the loss of sensation carries psychological implications, diminishing a patient ’ s over-all quality of life and disrupting their connection to their body and self-image.”
Haryani, H., Hsu, Y.-Y. A., Warsini, S., & Wang, S. (2018) · Journal of Pain and Symptom Management · doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.08.016 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
He, K., Jiang, J., Chen, M., Wang, T., Huang, X., Zhu, R., Zhang, Z., Chen, J., & Zhao, L. (2023) · Medicine · doi:10.1097/md.0000000000034484 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“In addition, studies have found that younger breast cancer patients are more concerned about their body image and perceived sexual function after breast cancer surgery than older breast cancer patients.[41,42] In addition, the older a patient is, the higher the incidence of complications.”
BackgroundTan, J. Y. A., Ong, G., Cheng, L. J., Pikkarainen, M. A., & He, H. G. (2023) · Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare · doi:10.1177/1357633x231187432 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Pehlivan, M., & Eyı, S. (2024) · Cancer Nursing · doi:10.1097/ncc.0000000000001427 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Anim-Sampong, A. M., Vanderpuye, V. D. N. K., Botwe, B. O., & Anim-Sampong, S. (2020) · Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice · doi:10.1017/s146039692000045x · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Negotiating femininity, motherhood and beauty: Experiences of Pakistani women breast cancer patients
Mansoor, T., & Abid, S. (2020) · Asian Journal of Women s Studies · doi:10.1080/12259276.2020.1859076 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Surgical Management of Inherited Breast Cancer: Role of Breast-Conserving Surgery
Magnoni, F., Sacchini, V., Veronesi, P., Bianchi, B., Bottazzoli, E. I., Tagliaferri, V., Mazzotta, E., Castelnovo, G., Deguidi, G., Rossi, E. M. C., et al. (2022) · Cancers · doi:10.3390/cancers14133245 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“Indeed, an undesirable outcome of mastectomy is loss of sensation to the remaining skin flap, which may negatively impact on psycosexual and relational well-being [70].”
BackgroundGürsoy, A., Koçan, S., & Aktuğ, C. (2017) · European Journal of Oncology Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2017.04.006 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Bernardini, R., Varvaras, D., D’Amico, F., Bielli, A., Scioli, M. G., Coniglione, F., Rossi, P., Buonomo, O. C., Petrella, G., Mattei, M., et al. (2019) · Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B Applied Biomaterials · doi:10.1002/jbm.b.34413 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Unveiling beauty: Insight into being tattooed postmastectomy
Jong, V. R. (2022) · Nursing Forum · doi:10.1111/nuf.12714 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
“being less feminine, sexual, and beautiful have also been reported by other researchers who have explored women's experiences following the loss of their breast(s).(12,29,30) However, in this cur-”
BackgroundResultShekhar, N., Jaiswal, R., Joseph, L., Jain, S., Jain, S. K., Ashwin, K. R., Yashas, N., Fernandes, A. M., Chandana, G., Vanitha, S., et al. (2023) · Clinical Breast Cancer · doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2023.05.017 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Czenczek‐Lewandowska, E., Szeliga, E., & Leszczak, J. (2023) · Breast Cancer Research and Treatment · doi:10.1007/s10549-023-07088-7 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
“Changes in body appearance after necessary surgical treatment and physical problems like fatigue, nausea, alopecia, decreased aerobic capacity and loss of muscle strength are traumatic experience for the woman [30].”
BackgroundTargeted Reinnervation During Gender-Affirming Mastectomy and Restoration of Sensation
Remy, K., Alston, C. C., Gonzales, E., Hazewinkel, M. H. J., Carruthers, K. H., Cohen, L. E., Tomczyk, E., Winograd, J. M., Austen, W. G., Valerio, I. L., et al. (2024) · JAMA Network Open · doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.46782 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Timing between Breast Reconstruction and Oncologic Mastectomy—One Center Experience
Avino, A., Răducu, L., Brîndușe, L. A., Jecan, C. R., & Lascăr, I. (2020) · Medicina · doi:10.3390/medicina56020086 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
“The post-mastectomy scars may have great effect on the body and mind of the patients, especially in young women [5].”
BackgroundNorsa’adah, B., Rampal, K. G., & Amin, R. M. (2021) · Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention · doi:10.31557/apjcp.2021.22.11.3623 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
“, 2016) or be unable to perform their routine and daily chores and that it will disrupt their social relationships (Kocan and Gursoy, 2016).”
BackgroundInfluentialRibeiro, F. E., Vanderlei, L. C. M., Palma, M. R., Tebar, W. R., Caldeira, D. T., Fregonesi, C. E. P. T., & Christófaro, D. G. D. (2018) · European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology · doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.08.581 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Body acceptance in women with breast cancer: A concept analysis using a hybrid model
Ahn, J., & Suh, E. E. (2023) · European Journal of Oncology Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2023.102269 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Al-Azri, M. H., AL-Kiyumi, Z., Al-Bimani, K., & Al-Awaisi, H. S. (2024) · Current Oncology · doi:10.3390/curroncol31120589 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Experiences of Women After Breast Cancer Surgery
Taze, S. S., & Kanan, N. (2020) · Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing · doi:10.5152/fnjn.2020.19012 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“One of the themes included in the qualitative study by Koçan & Gürsoy (2016) was deterioration in body image where one of the women stated that a part of her body was no longer there and that she had never thought that she could be like that.”
BackgroundThe Experiences and Support Needs of Women With Gestational Breast Cancer in Singapore
Liow, K. H. F., Ng, T. R. P., Choo, C. H., Koh, S. S. L., & Shorey, S. (2020) · Cancer Nursing · doi:10.1097/ncc.0000000000000912 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“Likewise, the importance of the breast in a woman's feminine identity was highlighted in this study.(24,25) Consistent with other literature, participants who, like their Western counterparts, underwent mastectomy with breast reconstructions were able to regain their feminine appearances in society better.”
ResultAhn, J., & Suh, E. E. (2021) · Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing · doi:10.4040/jkan.21028 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Online Patient Reviews of Breast Reconstruction: RealSelf Analysis
Pham, J. T., Kim, J. K., Hunt, S. E., Willette, D. M., & Tang, C. J. (2022) · Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open · doi:10.1097/gox.0000000000004476 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Nesher, S. P., Luria, M., Shachar, E. K., Percik, R., Shoshany, O., & Wolf, I. (2022) · Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care · doi:10.1097/spc.0000000000000595 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
“Specifically, sexually active females treated with therapies with increased risk of teratogenicity should be advised to use contraception [63].”
BackgroundChen, X., Dong, C., Zhuang, Y., Lu, L., Lu, P., Li, Y., Gu, Z., & Shen, C. (2025) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-025-06821-4 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
“Breast cancer surgery or treatment can alter or damage female secondary sexual characteristics, leading survivors to perceive their appearance as inconsistent with social standards, which fosters negative body image and social anxiety [20].”
Body image interventions within breast cancer care: A systematic review and concept analysis
Louis, L. A. T., Fortin, J., Roy, C.-A., Brunet, A., & Aimé, A. (2023) · Journal of Psychosocial Oncology · doi:10.1080/07347332.2023.2249879 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“21 These patients can also be under the impression that they have lost their femininity.”
BackgroundSuzuki, K., Morishita, S., Nakano, J., Okayama, T., Inoue, J., Tanaka, T., & Fukushima, T. (2024) · Breast Cancer · doi:10.1007/s12282-024-01581-7 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“Furthermore, treatment for breast cancer can alter the appearance of the patient [43, 44], resulting in fewer social interactions and a lower social QOL [43, 44].”
Time to final breast reconstruction: Effect on quality of life and associated factors
Jaffry, U., Bienert, C., Foster, D. G., Siotos, C., Manahan, M. A., & Sarmiento, S. (2025) · Journal of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2025.05.029 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Vizin, G., Szekeres, T., Juhász, A., Marton, L., Dank, M., Perczel-Forintos, D., & Urbán, R. (2023) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-023-01355-4 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“Although body image disturbances are well known among BC patients [14, 55], we found that the effect of body shame on adherence has not been investigated.”
BackgroundSAĞDIÇ, B. Ç., Bozkul, G., & Karahan, S. (2024) · European Journal of Oncology Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102511 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Saansong, A. O. A., Adoma, P. O., Nkrumah, J., & Gbagbo, F. Y. (2024) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-086069 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“25 This focus on maternal health complements the hospital’s broader range of specialist resources in general surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics and emergency medicine, solidi-fying its vital role in the region’s healthcare landscape.”
Prüsse, J. H., Piil, K., Hansen, L. B., Ørsted, L. G., Schmidt, V. J., Mejldal, A., & Hansen, S. T. (2025) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-091122 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Sheffi, O. S., Paluch–Shimon, S., Goldzwieg, G., Klein, S., & Braun, M. (2025) · The Breast · doi:10.1016/j.breast.2025.104512 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“While numerous studies have explored the impact of different surgical approaches on body image, yielding mixed results [12, 13], less attention has been given to the potential long-term effects of endocrine therapies on body image.”
Nia, H. S., Firouzbakht, M., Rekabpour, S. J., Nabavian, M., & Nikpour, M. (2021) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-021-01741-4 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“surement tools provide no reliable information about body image among women with BC (Koçan and Gürsoy 2016).”
BackgroundPopulation genomic screening: Ethical considerations to guide age at implementation
Spencer, S., & Fullerton, S. M. (2022) · Frontiers in Genetics · doi:10.3389/fgene.2022.899648 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
- Authors
- Kocan, S., & Gursoy, A.
- Venue
- Journal of Breast Health
- Publisher
- AVES YAYINCILIK A.Ş.
- Published
- 2016-09-29
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 145-150
- ISSN
- 1306-0945 (ISSN-L)
- 2149-1976
- PMC
- PMC5351438
- OpenAlex
- W2527226569
- Cited by
- 238
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 11.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Meme sağlığı dergisi/Meme sağlığı dergisi (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Women's cancer prevention and management
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Breast Implant and Reconstruction
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Keywords
- body image, breast cancer, mastectomy, women, femininity, motherhood, self-image, social life, marital relationships, clothing preferences, patient experience
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