AUTOESTIMA E AUTOIMAGEM EM MULHERES MASTECTOMIZADAS: Uma revisão integrativa da literatura

Breast cancer, with a global incidence, often requires total or partial mastectomy for health management and promotion. However, this intervention significantly impacts women's lives, triggering changes in self-perception and their relationship with their bodies. This study aimed to describe the perceptions of self-esteem and self-image among women who have undergone mastectomy. It is an integrative literature review conducted in the databases Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Electronic Psychology Journals (PePSIC), PubMed, Google Scholar, and Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), using the descriptors: breast cancer AND mastectomy AND self-image AND self-esteem. Following the selection based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, the research included 13 articles, predominantly quantitative in nature, conducted mainly in the Brazilian context. The results highlight the impact of mastectomy on female self-esteem and self-image, influenced by the timing and type of surgery, aesthetic concerns, and fear of disease recurrence. It also underscores the relationship between low self-esteem and depressive symptoms, as well as challenges in experiencing sexuality due to feelings of shame. In summary, the research reveals the complexity of the psychological impacts of mastectomy, emphasizing the importance of psychological support to address emotional challenges, maintain self-esteem, and promote positive adaptation to changes in female self-image.