Abstract

In today’s society, body image is understood as a significant aspect of a woman’s psychological health, physical well-being, and social identity. When women elect to receive a mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis, body image is negatively impacted, particularly among younger women. Research indicates that these body image difficulties manifest affectively, behaviorally, and cognitively. More specifically, negative body image has been found to correlate with psychological distress in the patient, psychological distress in the partner, poorer quality of life, sexual difficulties, strained romantic relationships, and impaired social functioning. Research indicates that many of these psychosocial concerns are not addressed within the patient-physician relationship, which primarily focuses on illness treatment and recovery rather than the emotional experience. This comprehensive literature review aims to identify the specific effects of mastectomies on body image and associated psychosocial realms among breast cancer survivors. Furthermore, this review will address existing gaps in the literature, areas for future research, and implications for mental health practitioners.