Breast self-examination among nuns: the missing touch

Abstract

Breast cancer is probably the most feared among women, due to its high incidenceand, above all, to the psychological effects that affect their perception of sexuality and their self-image. The early diagnosis is the best guarantee of success in the treatment of breast cancer, and the woman gives a relevant contribution in the early detection when she systematically does the self-examination. The research was done with 18 nuns (9 inactive life and 9 in contemplative life) from religious institutions belonging to the Diocese of Taubaté, and we tackled the aspects, which involve the self examination in the breasts. This is a study of qualitative approach, to which was adopted the strategy of case study. For the analysis of the data, it was used the proposal of the collective subject speech. The speeches revealed that these women are not properly informed on the procedures of early detection of breast cancer and that they do not perform the self-examination. This research also discusses the influence of the Christian religious moral over everything that involves the body, as the self examination and the other procedures of early detection of breast cancer involve touching and being touched.