TRANSPLANTATION LIVING WITH MASTECTOMY: EXPLAINING THE EXPERIENCES ADAPTATION WITH MASTECTOMY OF YOUNG WOMEN UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY

Mastectomy is the most common treatment for breast cancer in Iran. Therefore, with increasing numbers of patients, evaluating their compatibility becomes apparent. The purpose of this study was to explain process of the compatibility with mastectomy in young women undergoing chemotherapy. This study is a grounded theory approach that participants were chosen purposefully based on theoretical sampling. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and the process were continued until data saturation. The data simultaneously were collected and analyzed by using Strauss and Corbin approach. Validity of the data were confirmed based on Lincoln and Goba criteria. The findings showed that the process of compatiblity in 23 young women participating mastectomy undergoing chemotherapy can be catogorized in 5 themes including crisis (context) ups and downs (condition), and loss of identity (phenomenon), vast support (confounders), trying to rebuild lives (strategy) and the Transplantation alongside living with mastectomy, which inturn had subcategories. The study revealed that process of compliance of young women with mastectomy obeys a complex process. By paying attention to t hese patients who have the fear of sudden health loss, and change in the perception of the body image, one can understand that they experienced severe stress and limitations. Therefore, the medical team can inform this process to the patients by counseling and educating them to facilitate its acceptance and adoption.