THE EFFECT OF BREAST CANCER TREATMENT ON WOMENS BODY IMAGE

Abstract

This paper seeks to explore the impacts of breast cancer on the mental well-being of women due to issues in their body image through critically reviewing 5 research articles exploring the role of breast cancer and its treatment on psychological distress and body image disturbances. The study aimed to look at the importance of understanding the experiences undergone by breast cancer survivors to ensure a better recovery process and ultimately impact the healthcare system in providing a well-structured intervention plan targeting the issues in body image caused by the treatment. To explore this, literature covering women from across different cultural backgrounds, who had all undergone cancer treatment were studied. An in-depth case analysis was conducted exploring the studies objectives, research methodology, database details, and inclusion and exclusion criteria incorporated in the articles. Furthermore, this study aimed to provide implementations that could help make the healthcare system more inclusive through a detailed analysis of the limitations in the studies. The sample consisted of 5 research articles, looking at women dealing with body image issues post-cancer treatment. The importance of studying factors such as sexuality, self-esteem, physical discomfort and the role of relationships when looking at body image issues was brought to attention in the form of research findings in the articles. The findings of the research suggested that physical and emotional well-being are the most affected areas that influence the body image of women who have undergone breast cancer treatment, especially focusing on distress and disturbances. Furthermore, it suggests that the healthcare system is lacking in implementing the need for discussing body image issues while dealing with follow-up management plans for breast cancer survivors. Inter-personal and intra-personal relationships with partners and others were considered important factors in building a better body image post-treatment. Self-compassions role in reducing the risk towards a negative body image was given primary focus.