Navigating motherhood with one breast: a descriptive phenomenological study of body image, social stigma and resilience during active chemotherapy.
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OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer and unilateral mastectomy lead to profound emotional and social changes that influence how women view their bodies, relationships and sense of motherhood. With subsequent chemotherapy, these experiences often become more complex, shaping perceptions of femininity and self-worth. This study aimed to explore, in depth, the experiences of mothers who underwent chemotherapy with one breast (i.e. following unilateral mastectomy), emphasizing body image, social stigma and coping. METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological approach was adopted. The study was carried out between December 2024 and March 2025 in the oncology and outpatient chemotherapy units of a private hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, with 10 women who had undergone unilateral mastectomy and were receiving chemotherapy. Data were obtained through semi-structured, in-depth interviews lasting 45-60 min, and analysed using Colaizzi's (1978) seven-step method. The rigor of the study was supported by Lincoln and Guba's (1985) criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. RESULTS: Four main themes and eight subthemes were identified: (1) shock of diagnosis and emotional turmoil: fear, denial and the struggle to remain strong for their children; (2) reconstruction of motherhood and maternal identity: redefining motherhood and balancing treatment with maternal duties; (3) body image and femininity after unilateral mastectomy: feelings of incompleteness and efforts to conceal bodily change; and (4) social stigma and coping strategies: being judged or pitied, social withdrawal, and coping through faith and family support. CONCLUSION: Mothers who underwent unilateral mastectomy followed by chemotherapy experienced emotional strain, altered self-perception, and social stigma, yet displayed notable resilience and adaptive coping.