Comfort, Control, or Conformity: Women Who Choose Breast Reconstruction Following Mastectomy

Abstract

Following breast amputation women commonly are presented with two choices: to wear a prosthesis or undergo reconstruction. Breast restoration is assumed to allow a full emotional and physical recovery from a breast cancer crisis. Surgical reconstruction is offered to women as the final step in regaining a sense of complete womanhood, enabling a sense of optimism that both body and self will "get back to normal." This article examines 5 women's accounts of breast reconstruction and asks how breast reconstruction figures in the remaking of self following mastectomy. Issues pertaining to the reasoning behind seeking out the procedure, experiences of finding the right surgeon, and how women feel toward their reconstructed postsurgical body are examined. In conclusion it is argued that a number of contradictory expectations are held by women seeking reconstructions. While women suggest that reconstruction will restore lost femininity, sexuality, and normalcy in most cases it is not the procedure that enables this but the elimination of the hassles of prostheses. In contrast to the complete sense of self they expected to regain through reconstruction they articulate a restoration that is simply pragmatic. It is only once women have undertaken this last bastion of hope that they are forced to renegotiate their sense of themselves as women with or without breasts.

Younger women’s experiences of deciding against delayed breast reconstruction post-mastectomy following breast cancer: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

“…The medical literature commonly suggests that offering women a reconstruction is surgically optimal (Fang, Shu and Chang 2013;Crompvoets, 2006), especially for younger women (Roje et al, 2010) with studies reporting the psychosocial benefits of reconstruction (Wilkins et al, 2000;Ananian et al, 2004), particularly in terms of immediate versus delayed procedures (Al Ghazal et al, 2000). The picture becomes increasingly complex when pre-existing characteristics such as mental health and body image are considered (Rubino et al, 2007;Krauss, 1999;Figuerido et al, 2004).…”

Evidence-based recommendations for building better bras for women treated for breast cancer

“…For some women, the loss of a breast can negatively influence perceptions of their self-image, selfidentity and sexuality (Crompvoets 2006). For other women, it is a small price to pay for survival and the ongoing enjoyment of life (Gallagher et al 2010).…”

"A Struggle Between Vanity and Life"

“…Similar experiences have been reported by women from Western countries, who have described their physicians as acting as ''merchants'' who were promoting an idealized vision of women's bodies and the purchase of their products and services. 26 Such discussions complicated the decision-making process and made women concerned about their ability and that of society's to accept their appearance without breast reconstruction.…”