Clothing the breast cancer survivor: A grounded theory of 'self'-preservation

The goal of this research study was to determine whether clothing and appearance were areas of concern for women who had been treated for breast cancer. Through a grounded theory approach, a story of self preservation emerged that described first the fight for preservation of life and subsequently the fight for preservation of self. During treatments, participants wanted comfortable clothing that camouflaged their asymmetry. All through the cancer experience, participants manipulated their clothing and adorned themselves to express their individuality. However, women in this study found clothing choices limited because of unexpected physical repercussions of treatment. Hidden beneath a veneer of acceptance of change, participants talked about whom they had become and their perception of societal norms regarding physical perfection. Stories of ongoing struggles with clothing comfort and with meeting an acceptable socially prescribed aesthetic demonstrate the complexities of clothing a changed body.