The (re)construction of female identity among women cancer survivors

Abstract

Introduction: During and even after cancer treatment, changes related to patients’ body image and concerns about their female identity can impact both their physical and emotional health. This study aimed to understand the (re)construction of female identity among women cancer survivors.Methods: This was a qualitative study developed based on the concept of identity. Twenty-one adult women who had undergone or were undergoing antineoplastic treatment were interviewed.Results: The data analysis process revealed three themes, namely: Femininity on the skin, Being feminine in the eyes of others, and Being feminine now.Discussion: The identity of female cancer survivors was redefined after cancer treatment, since it leads to physical changes that affect the way they perceive themselves and present themselves as feminine to society. From this moment on, these women seek to assert themselves in socially and personally valued behaviors and actions that justify their femininity, building a new identity based on the illness experience.