Negative body image in breast cancer patients

Abstract

The aim of this overview study is to familiarize readers with the impact of changes to body image (BI) among patients treated for breast cancer. Body image is subjected to many changes during oncological treatment and every method of treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy) can have a negative impact on the way the treated patients perceive their bodies. The article differentiates the susceptibility of patients to a worsened self-image due to their pre-disease personality, socioeconomic factors, age, and declared sense of control during the oncological treatment. Herein, the areas of patients' lives which are the most affected by negative BI are discussed: quality of life and functioning in society, with particular emphasis on the return to work and sexuality. The ways of protecting patients' BI throughout treatment which have been proposed in the literature are presented in conclusions.

Keywords: body image; breast cancer; posttraumatic growth.