Art, archetypes and alchemy: Images of self following treatment for breast cancer

PurposeThe loss or alteration of a breast poses a threat to a woman’s selfhood, particularly those aspects that embrace feminine identity such as sexuality and caring. The use of art as a vehicle for recreating a sense of self after breast cancer surgery framed the study that generated the stories reported here. A team of nurse-researchers and professional artists entered into a collaborative partnership aimed at creating life-like prototypes of the torsos of two breast cancer survivors.MethodThe authors sought to understand participants’ experiences of healing through the narratives of their breast cancer journeys and their experiences of creating art through the use of their bodies. The participants consented to having interviews and casting sessions audio-taped. The authors used thematic analysis to explore the narratives.ResultsThe authors present excerpts of stories and comment on how participants articulated the feminine archetype in the form of the Greek goddesses Hestia, Artemis, and Aphrodite. The authors explore the transformative nature of participants’ experiences.ConclusionThe emergence of the goddess archetypes in participants’ narratives was an unanticipated result of the study. The authors invite readers to contemplate these anecdotes and embark on their own quest for deeper knowledge of breast cancer experiences.