Qualitative study on body image disturbance in young and middle-aged women with breast cancer in China.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To explore how young and middle-aged Chinese women with breast cancer perceive and emotionally respond to changes in their physical appearance and function during treatment and social interactions.

Design

A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study using Colaizzi's seven-step analysis method.

Setting

Breast surgery departments of two tertiary hospitals in North and Central China.

Participants

This study included a purposive sample of 18 young and middle-aged women (18-59 years old) with pathologically confirmed breast cancer who had received a mastectomy and obtained a score ≥10 on the Body Image Scale.

Data collection and analysis

In-depth, semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted from January to October 2024 to collect dat

SUBMITTER: Liu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12853456 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature