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[42]
(2015) 8 semi-structured reconstruction, and its impact on sexual intimacy and body image. The
interviews, with 4 long- results highlighted how heteronormative sexual scripts and gendered coping
term heterosexual couples styles may influence couples' intimacy after an experience of ‘altered
embodiment'. The authors stressed how the altered body involved both
personal adjustment, and relational adaptation in the context of these
intimate relationships
[56]
Parton et al. Qualitative PSYCH This study examined how woman understand their own bodily experiences
(2016) 16 semi-structured and sexuality in the context of cancer, as well as their sexual relationships. A
interviews dominant theme was describing the “abject body” after cancer, outside of
normality and ideal femininity
[41]
Piot-Ziegler et al. Qualitative PSYCH + This study examined the impact of mastectomy on women’s identity.
(2010) 19 women, 3 semi- SENS+ POST Participants discussed how breast reconstruction is often viewed as a
structured interviews each potential restoration of altered body integrity and physical symmetry. Many
described how grieving the past body and having to accept a new body can
lead to an identity crisis. Modified touch and sensation, altered postural
balance, and impact on relationships were discussed
Quixadá et al. [51] mixed methods: POST + This study evaluated the practicality of measuring posture objectively, and
(2022) -likert questionnaires on PSYCH + explored the correlation between posture and affect in patients with breast
pain, self-esteem, fatigue, SENS cancer-related postsurgical pain who underwent a 12-week course of Qigong
depression, anxiety, stress, mind-body training. The majority of participants who improved in fatigue
and exercise self-efficacy and anxiety scales had better vertical head values. Pain severity decreased
-posture: vertical spine and when vertical spine angle improved
vertical head angles
21 women included
Reid-de Jong [55] Qualitative PSYCH This study evaluated the experiences of women who underwent post-
(2022) 6 women interviewed mastectomy tattoos. Many women described feelings of being damaged
following mastectomy. The tattoos often served as an embodied
representation of self, and helped women regain confidence in a
symbolically meaningful way
Slatman [25] (2014) Review PSYCH This review explored various understandings of embodiment from a patient’s
perspective, focusing on experiences after breast surgery. The author
proposes that an analysis of embodiment requires including both individual-
level and social group-, or societal-level
Slatman et al. [39] Qualitative PSYCH + This study addressed how women give meaning to their bodies’ scars after
(2016) multiple interviews with 19 SENS breast cancer surgery. Beyond the physical marking of scars, women also
female breast cancer highlighted experiences of pain/functional impairment and changes in
patients sensation
[54]
Thomas-MacLean Qualitative SENS + This study explored women’s experiences of bodily changes and subsequent
(2005) 12 women, interviewed PSYCH embodiment after breast cancer, utilizing a feminist perspective. Key themes
twice each that impacted the altered sense of embodiment included altered or loss of
sensation and the management of appearances (e.g., wearing prostheses)
[57]
Trachtenberg et al. Likert questionnaires PSYCH This study examined the correlation between gender socialization and
(2022) 4 measures of gender psychosocial well-being in young women treated for breast cancer. Women
socialization: gender role who reported more normative gender socialization were associated with
socialization scale, mental poor well-being scores. Women who described greater resistance towards
freedom scale, objectified gender-role expectations and objectification pressures correlated with
body consciousness scale, greater well-being scores. Body shame, body surveillance, and mental
and silencing the self scale freedom were significant predictors of variance within a regression analysis
2 measures of psychosocial of the Experience of Embodiment Scale scores
well-being: experience of
embodiment scale and
functional assessment of
cancer therapy-breast
113 women included
PSYCH: Psychosocial; POST: postural; SENS: sensation.

key framework for interpreting their findings.

Embodiment encompasses the dimensions of “being, having, and using a body,” and has been measured
[17]
through sensation, posture, and psychosocial outcomes . These subcomponents of embodiment can be
articulated by patients and evaluated independently; however, they all contribute to an overall sense of being
and belonging in one’s body. A recurring theme from the literature was that alterations to these dimensions
require both personal and relational adaptations. Another over-arching theme was embodiment post-
reconstruction requires time and transition. One patient described the breast reconstruction experience,