The Impact of Mastectomy on Women's Body Image and Sexuality

For most women breast cancer and its frequent amputation encourage the development of negative consequences for their body image and consequently their sexuality. The breast is closely related to female identity maturity sexuality and motherhood so the impact of mastectomy on women seems to be evident and challenges emerge for perioperative nursing. With this in mind we have produced this book the main aim of which is to integrate and analyse data from studies carried out contributing to a better understanding of the current situation and promoting the increasing quality of the care provided. The results of the studies show that body image impairment is directly related to the experience of sexuality and that the more mutilating the surgery the greater the body image impairment. In this context nursing interventions particularly of an informative nature are extremely important as they facilitate adaptive processes.