Plenary 5 Body Image after Breast Cancer Treatment: Survivor’s Perspective Ranjit Kaur Malaysia 16 th RRI Conference Taipei, 12 November 2011

Body Image How we think and feel about our body and the way we see ourselves is known as our body image. Our body image changes constantly throughout our life and illness can affect how we feel and may prompt feelings that affect self-confidence.

Body image problems - associated with: - Mastectomy / Lumpectomy and Scar / Reconstruction - Partner's difficulty understanding one's feelings - Hair loss from chemotherapy - Sexual functioning - Weight gain or weight loss - Poorer mental health - Lymphoedema - Lower self-esteem - Poor posture

Implications of Body Image Issues How we feel about ourselves The fear of how others will perceive our altered body image Our relationships with loved ones Our relationships with society

“Every time someone looks at me I imagine that they are looking at my uneven breasts” “Everyone is mindful and conscious that I am one breast less, except my pet cat which still finds the comfort in the spot where my left breast used to be?” Mastectomy – A Loss

“I mourned the loss of my breast. I was grieving the death of a very important part of my body. Even reconstruction will not bring back my breast.”

“I opted for mastectomy because I had had calcification in that breast previously. It's not a worry to me to lose it. And so I decided on that. But again, it doesn't worry me one way or the other. And I certainly don't want to be reconstructed.” Mastectomy – No Big Deal

Bilateral Mastectomy “Breasts do not define a woman and they do not define you as a person. I am still me, my character did not change, nothing changed except my physical appearance which to me I have never looked better in my opinion. It's funny how as a society we have become so fixated on our looks.”

Bilateral Mastectomy “I was not really upset when I had my breasts removed. I knew that I was getting rid of something that just was not working for me. Why keep something that just keeps giving you problems. If you think about it, it's just skin and tissue. I might be more upset if I had to get rid of an arm or a leg.”

Addressing these problems can improve QOL - Mastectomy / lumpectomy and possible reconstruction - Hair loss from chemotherapy - Partner's difficulty understanding one's feelings - Sexual functioning - Weight gain or weight loss - Poorer mental health - Lower self-esteem

Communication The woman may be concerned about how her partner sees her and she may make assumptions about how her partner feels. Sharing feelings with her partner – may be awkward but necessary Being honest & talking openly The partner can then be responsive to her needs.

References Fobair, et al Body image and sexual problems in young women with breast cancer. Psychooncology 2006 Jul: 15(7): Stanford University, USA

Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia BCWA 5 th Floor Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah 16 Jalan Utara, Petaling Jaya Tel: Fax: