Current Oncology (Nov 2022)

Intimate Partner Violence against Mastectomized Women: Victims’ Experiences

  • Franciéle Marabotti Costa Leite,
  • Andreia Gomes Oliveira,
  • Bruna Lígia Ferreira de Almeida Barbosa,
  • Mariana Zoboli Ambrosim,
  • Neiva Augusta Viegas Vasconcellos,
  • Paulete Maria Ambrósio Maciel,
  • Maria Helena Costa Amorim,
  • Lorena Barros Furieri,
  • Luís Carlos Lopes-Júnior

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol29110674
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 11
pp. 8556 – 8564

Abstract

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Exposure to situations of domestic violence during the treatment for breast cancer may compromise the treatment and quality of life of women patients, so it is essential that health professionals act in tracking this phenomenon in the approach to and care of women with breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine experiences of violence against women by their intimate partners after mastectomy. This is an exploratory descriptive study, with a qualitative approach, carried out in the Rehabilitation Program for Mastectomized Women in a Brazilian reference hospital for oncological treatment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 mastectomized women. For data analysis, a content analysis technique was performed. The women interviewed were predominantly brown, with a minimum age of 44 years and maximum of 72 years. They presented with low education, were married, and had a mean period of five years of breast cancer diagnosis. The participants reported that after mastectomy, they experienced episodes of violence at a time when they were extremely vulnerable due to the various cancer treatments. Three major thematic categories emerged from interview data across the data collection: (1) experiences of psychological violence, (2) experiences of physical violence, and (3) experiences of sexual violence. Psychological violence took the form of humiliation and contempt for their condition. Physical violence involved assault and sexual violence in the form of forced sex by coercion. Violence was a phenomenon present after mastectomy, practiced in the domestic environment by the intimate partner. We emphasize the importance of health professionals in screening for this issue by listening to and welcoming women, recording cases, exposing this situation, and contributing to prevention.

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