[Personal and social identity transformations that occur over time among patients with total laryngectomy].
OBJECTIVE
To examine personal and social identity transformations that occur over time among patients treated for laryngeal carcinoma with total laryngectomy.


METHODS
Patients with laryngectomy and their family underwent interviews by a sociologist and a head and neck surgeon.


RESULTS
The diagnosis of cancer fills the patient's mind with images of suffering and death. Their life trajectory is more often a downward spiral. Patients are so stigmatized by the neoplasic illness that they become marginal and live in social isolation.


CONCLUSIONS
Being laryngectomized completely transforms patients' lives because this surgery induces their topple into the world of the disabled. Total laryngectomy has a negative connotation in our society. Therapists should take this reality into account and intensify their involvement before and especially after surgery.
Babin
Emmanuel
E
Service ORL et de Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale CHU, Caen, France. babin-e@chu-caen.fr
Edy
Eric
E
Béquignon
Arnaud
A
Hitier
Martin
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012934:Social Isolation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires