Breast cancer survivor and body: Exploring self-defining memories in an intervention pilot study

Abstract

Breast cancer, as a traumatic experience, affects self-defining memories (SDM), including those concerning emotions about and perceptions of the body. Currently, there is a gap in the literature regarding psychological intervention focused on managing bodily memories after cancer. This pilot study investigated how self-defining memories might reflect the relationship between body image and well-being after breast cancer. Fourteen breast cancer survivors participated in an online psychological intervention consisting of six sessions, specifically targeted on self-defining memories related to the body. Standardized questionnaires were administered before and after the intervention, followed by quantitative and qualitative analyses. Quantitative findings revealed significant affective responses to self-defining memories of shame and embarrassment regarding others’ judgment of their physical appearance, as well as fear and sadness stemming from subjective perceptions of illness. At the same time, qualitative findings revealed two main themes: the shock of diagnosis and the search for meanings related to cancer onset. This innovative psychological intervention could be considered an exploratory study about how to assist breast cancer survivors in gaining greater awareness of and better management of their self-defining memories related to their bodies. Potential applications of this approach in clinical treatment are discussed.