Background:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among women. In Sweden around 8000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Due to the number of breast cancer diagnosis, a nurse will probably meet women who are affected by breast cancer in the working life. Aim: The aim of the study was to describe women´s experiences of breast cancer after a mastectomy. Method: A literature study of eleven scientific qualitative articles were made. Results: The women had different point of views after a mastectomy. The following two major themes emerged: "The woman´s perception of her body" and "Experiences in social contexts". The two themes generated six subthemes: "To live in a foreign body", "To feel disfigured", "To accept the change", "To experience a pressure from the others", "To live in a relationship" and "To feel feminine". Conclusion: The women had varied experiences after a mastectomy. Most of the women experienced their body as foreign and unattractive. The group of women who did not experienced their body as foreign where older and they didn't care so much about their appearance.