It’s My Breast: A Self-Narrative of a Female Breast Cancer Patient

• Main Authors: Jing-Fen Tseng, 曾靜芬
• Other Authors: Li-Yu Wu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/t7c55x

碩士 === 經國管理暨健康學院 === 健康產業管理研究所 === 103 === This is a narrative of a female breast cancer patient, her life story, thoughts on existence, and facing the difficulties on her breasts. Thoughts of my greatest fear—death—and how I must face it haunts me at the mention of breast cancer. However, it is also through my thoughts of death that I am able to redefine the value as well as the meaning of my existence. Breast cancer is a reality and dilemma for people this era; nevertheless it is an opportunity for females to reflect on their breasts and bodies. When going through breast cancer related literature, my heart ache from seeing female breast cancer patients debase themselves; many labeled themselves as monsters, unwomanly, and/or crippled due to losing their breasts. I felt how they felt before but I have come to accept losing one of my breasts, and I grew to loving myself as a single-breasted woman. Thus, between seeing myself as a monster versus a self-loving single-breasted woman, I began searching ways to free breast cancer patients from the chains of their labels and distress. In this study, we investigate: 1. Autonomy over our breasts: We have our own breasts. When we think “those are our breasts,” the meaning and value of them will be ours to decide; even if we lose our breasts, their meaning and value is still decided by us. 2. Breasts and self-acceptance: Breast cancer  self-realization (determination, bravery, and perseverance)  new self-acceptance  accept losing a breast  love the single breasted self, this is the new relationship between my breast and I. 3. The factors that affect body image after breast cancer surgery: The rising of female independent awareness and learning to proactively love her single-breasted self are crucial factors in affecting body image after breast cancer surgery and should be the focus of related research within the nation. We also examined: 1. Physical autonomy and doctor-patient relationship: A cancer patient can listen to the body and soul, and come to believe that the literature on and understanding of cancer will better help her treat it; to believe that she will work out the best strategy to fight cancer with her doctor; to believe that she is the one to choose what treatment is suitable; to believe that she owns her body. 2. Illness stigmatization: Viewing the imperfections of a lifestyle or personality as the cause of cancer is a stigma many have. Nothing in life is perfect, that is the reality, but these imperfections are not what cause cancer. The journey with breast cancer is one to self-realization. I have changed my world through changing my value of life; my value of existence became more valuable due to my self-realization towards life. Thank you, breast cancer, for allowing my life to take a turn. Thank you, breast cancer, for providing me with another perspective on life and providing me with different sceneries.