Corporeal Posttraumatic Growth As a Result of Breast Cancer: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Women’s traumatic experience of breast cancer (BC) can result in posttraumatic growth (PTG). Women’s embodied experiences of BC seem particularly pertinent to their experiences of both difficulty and growth. While PTG is usually conceptualized as having five domains, it seems that BC survivors experience a sixth domain—corporeal PTG (CPTG). CPTG was recently defined as a “reclaiming” and renewed connection to the body through increased appreciation of the physical self, a new sense of bodily responsibility, positive health changes, and a new sense of positive identification with the body. This study’s aim was to explore how women experience CPTG due to BC. In-depth interviews were conducted with female BC survivors. Interpretative phenomenological analysis extracted three themes: losing, regaining, and relinquishing ultimate control over the body, reconstructing embodied identity, and a newfound appreciation for the body. Participants spoke of a complicated journey from distress, loss, and fragmentation to a reshaping of their assumptions about their bodies. The findings suggest that the body plays a vital role in women’s traumatic and growth-related experiences of BC. Future research on the embodied experience of BC is recommended as it forms a crucial part of BC recovery.

Post-traumatic growth and life threatening physical illness: a systematic review of the qualitative literature

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) is the phenomenon of positive change through the experience of trauma and adversity (O'Leary & Ickovics, 1995). Research suggests that the type of trauma sustained could have differing processes and outcomes from each other (Demark-wahnefried et al., 2000; Sabiston, McDonough, and Crocker, 2007). The aim of this study was to synthesize qualitative data on PTG and illness related trauma. Fifty-seven published journal articles dating from before November 1st, 2007 in PsychINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge and from the authors own knowledge of the area were reviewed. Key words included PTG; benefit finding; thriving and positive changes. Key themes included: 'reappraisal of life and priorities'; 'trauma equals development of self'; 'existential re-evaluation'; and 'a new awareness of the body'. Findings suggest that there are unique elements to illness related PTG and a need for additional research into the processes and outcomes of physical illness related trauma.