Body Image and Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This systematic review aimed to synthesize the existing literature on body image dissatisfaction among women undergoing breast cancer treatment, its prevalence, associated factors, and potential interventions. A comprehensive search was conducted in multiple electronic databases up to April 2023. This systematic review identified 194 articles initially, with 168 unique articles remaining after removing duplicates. After screening titles and abstracts, 107 articles were excluded based on eligibility criteria, leaving 61 articles for further evaluation. Finally, 14 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis after excluding 47 articles. A total of 14 studies met the inclusion criteria, involving 1,031 female breast cancer survivors undergoing active treatment or follow-up care. The studies utilized cross-sectional, cohort, qualitative, and interventional designs. Body image dissatisfaction was measured using validated scales, and statistical analyses included bivariate and multivariate approaches. The studies included female breast cancer survivors aged 18 to 75 years, who had undergone breast cancer treatment and were either undergoing active treatment or in follow-up care. Participants were excluded if they were male, non-breast cancer populations, had not received any form of breast cancer treatment, or were diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Studies not published in English were also excluded from this systematic review. The prevalence of body image dissatisfaction ranged from 56.8% to 92%. Significant associations were found with receiving multi-professional follow-up and returning to employment after treatment. Factors such as surgical procedures, chemotherapy, time since treatment completion, dispositional gratitude, and coping strategies influenced body image perceptions. The review highlights the impact of body image dissatisfaction on various aspects of quality of life and calls for the implementation of interventions to improve the well-being of breast cancer survivors. Future research should focus on culturally tailored approaches to address this concern effectively.