‘Do you mean I’m not whole?’: Exploring the role of support in women’s experiences of mastectomy without reconstruction
File(s)Final HP submission.docx (64.22 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Archer, SA
Holland, FG
Montague, J
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This study explores the role of others in supporting younger women who opt not to reconstruct their breast post-mastectomy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six women, diagnosed with breast cancer in their 30s/40s. The women lived in England, had been diagnosed a minimum of 5 years previously and had undergone unilateral mastectomy. An interpretative phenomenological analysis revealed three themes; Assuring the self: “I’ll love you whatever”, Challenging the self: ‘Do you mean I’m not whole?’, and Accepting the self: ‘I’ve come out the other side’. The women’s experiences of positive support and challenges to their sense of self are discussed.
Date Issued
2018-10-01
Date Acceptance
2016-07-04
Citation
Journal of Health Psychology, 2018, 23 (12), pp.1598-1609
ISSN
1461-7277
Publisher
SAGE Publications (UK and US)
Start Page
1598
End Page
1609
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Health Psychology
Volume
23
Issue
12
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2016. The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in Archer, S., Holland, F. G., & Montague, J. (2018). ‘Do you mean I’m not whole?’: Exploring the role of support in women’s experiences of mastectomy without reconstruction. Journal of Health Psychology, 23(12), 1598–1609 by Sage Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. It is available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105316664135
Subjects
Public Health
1701 Psychology
1702 Cognitive Sciences
1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2016-09-05