Abstract
Breast cancer is a significant health issue all around the world and the most frequent type of cancer among Swedish women. The aim of this study was to explore and describe life situations of Swedish women with breast cancer after mastectomy. A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews was conducted by using an interview guide concerning experiences of changes in the women's daily lives and functions. Thirty-three women with breast cancer having undergone mastectomy participated. The data from the interviews were subjected to content analysis. Six categories emerged: Embarrassment with body image and loss of femininity; Feelings of fear, worry and anxiety; Better appreciation of life; Support from different sources; Experiences of care from health care professionals; and Need of information and follow-up care. The women's body image limits their daily lives, and psychological distress reminds them of their disease. Reception of support from family and healthcare professionals and perception of positive life are important. Sometimes there is a lack of information and follow-up from healthcare professionals, who should be aware of the women's feelings and needs.
Highlights
Breast cancer is a significant health issue for women all around the world, and in Sweden it is the most common type of cancer among women
The women’s body image limits their daily lives, and psychological distress reminds them of their disease
The quality of life after breast cancer treatment is associated with body image (Bagheri and Mazaheri, 2015) and has become increasingly important
Summary
Breast cancer is a significant health issue for women all around the world, and in Sweden it is the most common type of cancer among women. The quality of life after breast cancer treatment is associated with body image (Bagheri and Mazaheri, 2015) and has become increasingly important. After such treatment, women face many changes of their lives and encounter numerous traumatic experiences of disfigurement (Aerts et al, 2014; Sun et al, 2017). Women having undergone mastectomy have reported an unfamiliarity with their new body that affects their sexuality and sexual function They have reported distress over scars, reduced sense of attractiveness, fear of rejection from their partners, and loss of femininity (Fang et al, 2013; Klaeson et al, 2011). The women have to deal with traumatic physical and psychological experiences of their diagnosis of breast cancer and of treatment that disrupts their daily lives and often leads to a poor quality of life (Siqueira et al, 2020)
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