Body Image in Women Treated For Breast Cancer

Stress and immunity breast cancer project

“…Many fewer studies have included a sample of women who have received reconstruction. The finding of equivalent levels of distress for both the MRMw/R and MRM groups, however, is consistent with data from cross-sectional studies of heterogeneous samples of women assessed from 2 months to 2 years (Mock, 1993 y im a& In summary, the first goal of the research-to charac outcomes for women receiving breast reconstruction nÜ? ** ** R)-found that their immediate postsurgery sexual beh ^* ,/ sexual responses are disrupted, and significantly m o ^"W women receiving lesser surgery (BCT) or comparable bw^ "^ gery but no reconstruction (MRM).…”

Body image and sexual problems in young women with breast cancer

“…Body image and sexual functioning are aspects of human behavior that depend upon one's vitality, physical functioning, role and social functioning (Mock, 1993). Body image is defined as the mental picture of one's body, an attitude about the physical self, appearance, and state of health, wholeness, normal functioning, and sexuality.…”

“…Body image is defined as the mental picture of one's body, an attitude about the physical self, appearance, and state of health, wholeness, normal functioning, and sexuality. Body image is a component of a larger concept of self that for women includes feeling feminine and attractive (Mock, 1993;Carver et al, 1998;Hopwood, 1993;Cohen et al, 1998;White, 2000), enjoying one's body as a symbol of social expression, and as a way of being in the world (Cohen et al, 1998). The way in which one experiences her body is highly subjective, and is a product of her perceptions, thoughts, and feelings about body size, competence and function (Cohen et al, 1998;White, 2000).…”

Schema Model of the Self‐Concept

“…Recently Mock (1993) reported the results of a study about consequences of breast cancer treatment on the selfconcept. In this study, the effects of four different types of breast cancer treatment on body-image, body-satisfaction, and global self-esteem were examined.…”

“…Although treatment choice is often dictated by characteristics of the tumor, Mock (1993) suggests that in 20% to 30% of the cases, women are involved in the selection of treatment choice. Given that self-schemas function as active information processors, it can be hypothesized that the self-schemas play a role in determining what information is attended to, how it is interpreted, and ultimately, in selecting the treatment choice.…”