title: Living in a changed female body after gynecological cancer.
abstract: In this article we elaborate on how living in a changed female body after gynecological cancer is experienced 5 to 6 years after treatment. Based on a phenomenological life-world perspective, 32 interviews with 16 women showed that changes involved dealing with unfamiliarity related to experiences of bodily emptiness, temperature fluctuations, sex-life consequences, vulnerability, and uncertainty. Findings are discussed in relation to Svenaeus's perspective on illness as an unhomelike being-in-the-body and being-in-the-world. This perspective could spur health personnel to improve patient information and dialogue and thus facilitate a process leading to more familiarity and homelikeness for patients during treatment and follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. ragnhild.johanne.sekse@helse-bergen.no
authors.forename: Ragnhild J Tveit
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sekse
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gjengedal
authors.forename: Målfrid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Råheim
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D035501:Uncertainty