‘I’ve got a very dichotomous difference in the way that I perceive myself’: Positive and negative constructions of body image following cancer treatment
Journal article
| Authors | Grogan, Sarah, Mechan, Jayne, Persson, Sofia, Finlay, Sive and Hall, Matthew |
|---|---|
| Abstract | This study investigated how women constructed body image following cancer. Four women, aged 32-67 years who had experienced breast or bowel cancer took part in a two-hour, in-depth focus group. Discourse analysis revealed that women orientated to positive aspects of the post-treatment body (silhouette, trust, acceptance) whilst acknowledging that their experiences were also traumatic (hair loss, scarring, sickness, swelling). Bodies and illness were concealed from public judgment, and women developed new trust in their bodies due to overcoming cancer; post-cancer bodies were accepted despite opportunities for normalisation. Implications for those wanting to support women during and after cancer are discussed. |
This study investigated how women constructed body image following cancer. Four women, aged 32-67 years who had experienced breast or bowel cancer took part in a two-hour, in-depth focus group. Discourse analysis revealed that women orientated to positive aspects of the post-treatment body (silhouette, trust, acceptance) whilst acknowledging that their experiences were also traumatic (hair loss, scarring, sickness, swelling). Bodies and illness were concealed from public judgment, and women developed new trust in their bodies due to overcoming cancer; post-cancer bodies were accepted despite opportunities for normalisation. Implications for those wanting to support women during and after cancer are discussed. | |
| Keywords | Body image; Breast cancer; Bowl cancer; Discourse analysis; Body acceptance; Focus groups |
| Year | 2017 |
| Journal | Journal of Health Psychology |
| Publisher | Sage |
| ISSN | 13591053 |
| 14617277 | |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105317730896 |
| Web address (URL) | http://hdl.handle.net/10545/621869 |
| http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ | |
| hdl:10545/621869 | |
| Publication dates | 20 Sep 2017 |
| Publication process dates | |
| Deposited | 22 Sep 2017, 14:55 |
| Rights | Archived with thanks to Journal of Health Psychology |
| Contributors | Manchester Metropolitan University, Cancer Research UK, University of Derby, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, UK and University of Derby, UK |
| File | File Access Level Controlled |
| File | File Access Level Open |
| File | File Access Level Open |
https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/94x09/-i-ve-got-a-very-dichotomous-difference-in-the-way-that-i-perceive-myself-positive-and-negative-constructions-of-body-image-following-cancer-treatment
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