Redefining Beauty

Taking Flight ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 84-106
Author(s):  
Jennifer Donahue

The fourth chapter turns to works by Pauline Melville and Elizabeth Nunez to explore how breast cancer and anorexia nervosa offer physical and emotional renewal for the protagonists. In The Migration of Ghosts, Boundaries, and Anna-In-Between, Melville and Nunez use their characters to question body-image ideals. The works attest to the life-altering impact of disease. The protagonists’ illnesses, rooted in their dis-ease with their bodies, their relationships, and their privilege, highlight the emotional side effects that can accompany physical maladies. In Melville and Nunez’s works, illness functions as the force of inertia that propels temporary migration and the protagonists’ intensely introspective experiences. Together, the texts afford a closer look at the relationship between disease, migration, and familial reconnection.

Trials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonessa Boing ◽  
Tatiana do Bem Fretta ◽  
Melissa de Carvalho Souza Vieira ◽  
Gustavo Soares Pereira ◽  
Jéssica Moratelli ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Breast cancer is a global public health issue. The side effects of the clinical treatment can decrease the quality of life of these women. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle is essential to minimize the physical and psychological side effects of treatment. Physical activity has several benefits for women with breast cancer, and Pilates solo and belly dancing can be an enjoyable type of physical activity for women with breast cancer undergoing clinical treatment. The purpose of this study is to provide a Pilates solo and a belly dance protocol (three times per week/16 weeks) for women undergoing breast cancer treatment and compare its effectiveness with that in the control group. Methods The participants will be allocated to either the intervention arm (Pilates solo or belly dance classes three times per week for 16 weeks) or a control group (receipt of a booklet on physical activity for patients with breast cancer and maintenance of habitual physical activity routine). The Pilates solo and belly dance classes will be divided into three stages: warmup and stretching, the main stage, and relaxation. Measurements of the study outcomes will take place at baseline; postintervention; and 6, 12, and 24 months after the end of the intervention (maintenance period). The data collection for both groups will occur with a paper questionnaire and tests covering general and clinical information. The primary outcome will be quality of life (EORT QLQ-C30 and EORT QLQ-BR23), and secondary outcomes will be physical aspects such as cardiorespiratory fitness (6-min walk test and cycle ergometer), lymphedema (sum of arm circumference), physical activity (IPAQ short version), disabilities of the arm (DASH), range of motion (goniometer test), muscular strength (dynamometer test) and flexibility (sit and reach test), and psychological aspects such as depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), body image (Body Image After Breast Cancer Questionnaire), self-esteem (Rosenberg), fatigue (FACT-F), pain (VAS), sexual function (FSFI), and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Discussion In view of the high prevalence of breast cancer among women, the implementation of a specific protocol of Pilates solo and belly dancing for patients with breast cancer is important, considering the necessity to improve their physical and psychological quality of life. Pilates solo and belly dancing are two types of physical activity that involve mental and physical concentration, music, upper limb movements, femininity, and social involvement. An intervention with these two physical activities could offer options of supportive care to women with breast cancer undergoing treatment, with the aim being to improve physical and psychological quality of life. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03194997. Registration date 12 August 2017. Universal Trial Number (World Health Organization), U1111-1195-1623.


2000 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 453-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas F. Cash ◽  
Melissa A. Brown

Antidepressant drugs are frequently prescribed for women and have various side effects, including potential effects on body weight. This experiment examined the effects of information about the weight-related side effects of antidepressants on women's attitudes toward the drugs. 60 college women were randomly assigned to read about one of two drugs, fluoxetine (Prozac) or Imipramine (Tofranil). Participants were either told or not told about veridical weight-related side effects, namely, weight loss for Prozac and weight gain for Tofranil. As hypothesized, weight-gain information lowered the personal acceptability of Tofranil, and weight-loss information enhanced the acceptability of Prozac. Although research with clinical populations is required, undergraduate women's decisions about the use of antidepressant medications may be influenced by societal body-image ideals.


2010 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 261-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Mendonça Munhoz ◽  
Rolf Gemperli ◽  
José Roberto Filassi

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (34) ◽  
pp. 266-276
Author(s):  
Básia Menezes Hagen ◽  
Amuzza Aylla Pereira dos Santos ◽  
Isabel Comassetto ◽  
Juliana Bento de Lima Holanda ◽  
Maira De Melo Freire ◽  
...  

O estudo objetivou descrever o (re)significar da sexualidade para a mulher ao descobrir-se com neoplasia maligna da mama. É um estudo qualitativo, exploratório e descritivo, realizado com 15 mulheres em um Centro de Alta Complexidade em Oncologia (CACON) no estado do nordeste brasileiro. Os resultados encontrados foram divididos em dois categorias: Os sentimentos relacionados à (re)significação da imagem corporal e A cura acima da (re)significação da Imagem corporal diante do diagnóstico de câncer de mama. Esse estudo possibilitou perceber que as mulheres, após o diagnóstico de neoplasia maligna da mama, (re)significaram de maneiras diferentes a relação entre o diagnóstico do câncer de mama e a sexualidade, além de apontar ainda que elas necessitam de informações para fortalecer sua autoestima e se colocar como protagonista no processo de adoecimento.Descritores: Neoplasias da Mama, Sexualidade, Enfermagem Oncológica. Breast cancer: (re)signifying female body imageAbstract: The woman's view of her body image is essential in her sexuality, and the breasts play a large role, associating with woman's femininity. The study has as objective to describe the (re)meaning of sexuality for the woman when discovering herself with malignant neoplasm of the breast. It is a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study, carried out with 15 women in a Center of High Complexity in Oncology (CACON) in Maceió-AL. The results were divided in two themes: The feelings related to (re)signification of the body image and The cure above the (re)signification of the body image before the diagnosis of breast cancer. This study made it possible to perceive that women, after diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of the breast, (re)mean in different ways the relationship between diagnosis and sexuality. He also pointed out that they need information to strengthen their self-esteem and stand as a protagonist.Descriptors: Breast Neoplasms, Sexuality, Oncology Nursing. Cáncer de mama: (re)significando la imagen corporal femeninaResumen: La visión de la mujer sobre su imagen corporal es esencial en su sexualidad y las mamas tienen un gran papel, asociando la feminidad de la mujer. El estudio tiene como objetivo descrever el (re)significar de la sexualidad para la mujer al descubrirse con neoplasia maligna de la mama. Es un estudio cualitativo, exploratorio y descriptivo, realizado con 15 mujeres en un Centro de Alta Complejidad en Oncología (CACON) en Maceió-AL. Los resultados encontrados fueron divididos en dos temas: Sentimientos relacionados con la (re)significación de la imagen corporal y La curación por encima de la (re) significación de la imagen corporal ante el diagnóstico de cáncer de mama. Este estudio permitió percibir que las mujeres, después del diagnóstico de neoplasia maligna de la mama, (re)significan de maneras diferentes la relación entre el diagnóstico y la sexualidad. También apunta que necesitan información para fortalecer su autoestima y colocarse como protagonista.Descriptores: Neoplasias de la Mama, Sexualidad, Enfermería Oncológica.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonessa Boing ◽  
Tatiana do Bem Fretta ◽  
Melissa de Carvalho Souza Vieira ◽  
Gustavo Soares Pereira ◽  
Jéssica Moratelli ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Breast cancer is a global public health issue and the side effects of the clinical treatment can decline the quality of life of these women. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle is essential to minimize the physical and psychological side effects of treatment. Physical activity has several benefits for breast cancer women and Pilates solo and belly dance can be an enjoyable type of physical activity for breast cancer women undergoing clinical treatment. The purpose of the study will be to provide a Pilates solo and a belly dance protocol (3x/16 weeks) for women undergoing breast cancer treatment and compare its effects with the control group. Methods: The participants will be allocated to either the intervention arm (Pilates solo or belly dance classes 3x/week for 16 weeks) or a control group (receipt of a booklet on physical activity for breast cancer patients and maintenance of habitual physical activity routine). The Pilates solo and belly dance classes will be divided into three stages: warm-up and stretching; the main stage and relaxation. Measurements of study outcomes will take place at baseline, post-intervention, 6-, 12- and 24-months (maintenance period). The data collection for both groups will occur with a questionnaire application and tests, covering general and clinical information, primary outcome will be quality of life (EORT QLQ C30 and BR23), secondary outcomes will be physical aspects as cardiorespiratory fitness (6-minute walk test and cycle ergometer), lymphedema (sum of arm circumference), physical activity (IPAQ short version), disabilities of the arm (DASH), range of motion (goniometer test), strength (dynamometer test) and flexibility (sit and reach test) and psychological aspects as depressive symptoms (BECK Inventory), body image (Body Image After Breast Cancer Questionnaire), self-esteem (Rosenberg), fatigue (FACT-F), pain (VAS), sexual function (FSFI) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Discussion: In view of the high prevalence of breast cancer among women, the implementation a specific protocol of Pilates solo and belly dance for patients with breast cancer is important considering the needs to improve the quality of life, physical and psychological aspects of their life. Pilates solo and belly dance are two kinds of physical activity that involves mental and body concentration, music, upper limb movements, femininity, and social involvement. An intervention with these two physical activities could offer a choice of supportive care to breast cancer women undergoing treatment to improve quality of life, physical and psychological aspects. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03194997 (registration date: 12 August 2017). Universal Trial Number (World Health Organization): U1111-1195-1623. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03194997


2010 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Kadela Collins ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Mario Schootman ◽  
Rebecca Aft ◽  
Yan Yan ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Trybulec ◽  
Filip Georgiew ◽  
Katarzyna Borowiec-Trybulec

Introduction: Currently, in the world, breast cancer is recognized as one in four malignant neoplasms in women. It is the second most common cause of death in cancer patients. The disease, which is a threat to women’s lives, leads to the loss of personal control, during its duration it becomes everyday life with negative emotions such as uncertainty, anxiety and anxiety. Women have contact with a range of negative effects that the disease provides, causing them to resign and destructive to the psychophysical sphere. Disorders in the physical and mental aspect of body image, side effects of therapy, sexual relations with a partner and anxiety about health in the future are factors that have a huge impact on the quality of life of patients. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life of women with breast cancer. Materials and methods: The quality of life of 40 women with breast cancer who underwent oncological treatment was assessed using the author’s questionnaire with 12 questions and QLQ-BR23 questionnaire with 23 questions.. Results and conclusions: Studies have shown that the biggest problem for women was the side effects of the treatment and the most common discomfort during radiation therapy. They are characterized by redness of the skin, general weakness and fatigue, which in turn later translated into, a change in the perception of their body image, a decrease in their attractiveness, a sense of comfort and confidence. The obtained results showed that the lowest quality of life of the respondents was registered in the domain determining future perspectives. The best result was recorded in the domain of sexual pleasure and sexual functioning. When assessing the quality of life of the respondents, it follows that patients with vocational education have a worse quality of life within the domain of breast symptoms. Employed persons surveyed obtained worse quality of life results in terms of sexual functioning and sexual pleasure. Considering the duration of illness of the respondents, there were no statistically significant differences affecting the quality of life.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-388
Author(s):  
Safieh Gooran ◽  
Masoumeh Simbar ◽  
Sepideh Hajian ◽  
Soheila Nazarpour ◽  
Malihe Nasiri ◽  
...  

Objectives: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. In addition, it is the most mentally powerful cancer in women due to affecting the most important female sexual part. Patients with breast cancer experience problems in their marital relationship because of their disrupted mental image and sexual relations. In this regard, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between sexual self-concept and mental body image in women with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 120 women with breast cancer. Using a convenience sampling technique, patients were selected from among those hospitalized in the selected hospitals of Tehran in 2018. Data were collected using demographic details, the Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Questionnaire (MSSCQ), and the Fisher’s Body Focus questionnaire. Finally, the data were statistically analyzed in SPSS-21. Results: According to the descriptive and analytical statistics, women with breast cancer obtained the highest scores in avoiding risky sex and sexual problem prevention while the lowest scores in terms of sexual preoccupation. Based on the results, there was no disruption in the body image of any of the examined women. Eventually, a significant correlation was observed between sexual self-concept and body image (P<0.001, r=0.4). Conclusions: In general, body image has a positive relationship with sexual self-concept in women with breast cancer and is considered an important predictor of sexual health and behaviors of this group. Accordingly, psychological interventions, along with midwifery and sexual consultations offered by trained personnel can help empower these patients.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document