The Process of Change the Body Image in Women with Breast Cancer: A Grounded Theory

Introduction: Women with breast cancer experience a change in the body image following the side effects of cancer treatment. The body image and its care are cultural and context-dependent. Understanding patients experiences of changes in the body image can help to analyze the major challenges and concerns of patients with breast cancer and by recognizing the needs, expectations, and gaps, it is possible to provide optimal services and care to enhance the patient s body image. The purpose of the present study was to explain the process of change the body image in women with breast cancer.Methods: The design of this study was grounded theory .Participants included 42 participants (36 women with breast cancer, 1 husband, 1 child, 2 physicians and 2 nurses). Sampling was at first purposeful and then continued by theoretical. Data collection through interviews with open-ended questions and field note in three health care centers in Alborz province. The data analyzed by using the Strauss and Corbin approach (1998).Results: The results of this study showed that the process of changing the body image in women with breast cancer was a dynamic and complex psychological, cognitive, behavioral, and interactive process depend on social beliefs that change in appearance and function following cancer treatment is considered the starting point of the process of dealing with body image. This change caused self-conscious coping against understand the threat of feminine identity as a major concern for women with breast cancer. This led women to demonstrate self-conscious coping behaviors and interactive reaction in response to the perceived threat of feminine identity as their major concern. The women based on their personal experiences and characteristics and social beliefs, responded to the main concern of understanding the threat of feminine identity and used the strategy of reconstruction feminine identity to cope. In this process, access to support resources as facilitators and ineffective support as inhibitors. Interaction leads to a continuum of consequences of helplessness to self-worth is for women with breast cancer.Conclusion: This study provided an in-depth understanding of the process of change the body image in women with breast cancer. Understanding patients experiences can be a valuable resource for future planning to achieve the promotion of reconstruction feminine identity in women with breast cancer.Message for Policy Makers: Health policy makers by improving perceived support can help patients to reconstruction their feminine identity and achieve self-worth out comes

Keywords:

Breast cancer women , Body image , Grounded theory.