The narrative accounts of sexual functioning, emotional intimacy and coping mechanisms of breast cancer survivors under the age of 40 and their partners before, during and after mastectomy

• Main Author: Ching, Ira
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2014
• Subjects: Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/18098
• Institution: De La Salle University

A woman under the age of 40 diagnosed with breast cancer is uncommon. Undergoing mastectomy of any age is a significant change on a woman's quality of life. Yet, those woman under the age of 40 They seem to experience more feelings of distress, depression and have a harder time to cope compared to the women diagnosed and treated above the age of 40. The most common treatment used for breast cancer is through breast removal or mastectomy. Removing of a woman's breast can make them feel less of a woman, as if their femininity and sexuality has been decreased with the removal of their breast. Breast cancer not only affects the women but also their husbands. Presently, there are only a few couple based intervention studies that exist. This research aims to provide useful and helpful insights about the breast cancer experience of the young breast cancer survivors (women under 40) and their male partners giving emphasis on their emotional, sexual and coping mechanisms before during and after the mastectomy.