title: Understanding the Essential Meaning of Measured Changes in Weight and Body Composition Among Women During and After Adjuvant Treatment for Breast Cancer: A Mixed-Methods Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Changes in weight and body composition among women during and after adjuvant antineoplastic treatment for breast cancer may influence long-term survival and quality of life. Research on factual weight changes is diverse and contrasting, and their influence on women's perception of body and self seems to be insufficiently explored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to expand the understanding of the association between changes in weight and body composition and the women's perception of body and selves.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed-methods research design was used. Data consisted of weight and body composition measures from 95 women with breast cancer during 18 months past surgery. Twelve women from this cohort were interviewed individually at 12 months. Linear mixed model and logistic regression were used to estimate changes of repeated measures and odds ratio. Interviews were analyzed guided by existential phenomenology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Joint displays and integrative mixed-methods interpretation demonstrated that even small weight gains, extended waist, and weight loss were associated with fearing recurrence of breast cancer. Perceiving an ambiguous transforming body, the women moved between a unified body subject and the body as an object dissociated in "I" and "it" while fighting against or accepting the body changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Integrating findings demonstrated that factual weight changes do not correspond with the perceived changes and may trigger existential threats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transition to a new habitual body demand health practitioners to enter a joint narrative work to reveal how the changes impact on the women's body and self-perception independent of how they are displayed quantitatively.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Department of Oncology and Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark (Ms Pedersen and Dr Falkmer); Institute of Public Health, Section for Nursing, Health Faculty, Aarhus University & Aalborg University, Denmark, and University College Diakonova, Oslo, Norway (Dr Delmar); Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Clinical Nursing Research Unit, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark (Dr Groenkjaer).
authors.forename: Birgith
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groenkjaer
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Falkmer
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delmar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents