omy in the same way. Some women feel that the removal of a breast diminishes both their sexual attractiveness and their ability to function sexually (Burbie and Polinsky, 1992, pp. 19 33). The lifestyles of such women may be changed dramatically. They may withdraw from sexual activity, an action that will affect both their own lifestyles and those of the individuals with whom they were previously intimate. Such women may also avoid to the extent possible appearing in public settings. This action will also result in significant changes in the lifestyles of both the women affected and those of their families and friends.
Some women may be able to intellectually accept the contention that a mastectomy does not change the inner person, and they remain themselves subsequent to the mastectomy. These women, however, will also encounter significant difficulties in coming to terms with breast loss as a consequence of the attitudes of some other members of society (Tait, 1991, pp. 15 17).
All women experiencing a mastectomy, however, must eventually come to terms with an altered body image of themselves (Price, 1992, pp. 641 642). The fact that some women more quickly than others be able to overcome the trauma of mastectomy does not mean that they will be able to ignore an altered body image. Rather, they must learn to live with an altered image.
During the course of a lifetime, one of every 10 women will exp
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