My life after cancer: The narratives of identity, bodily actions and emotions in Dutch women who are long term post cancer survivors

In this thesis, I explore the relationship between the body, emotions and identity from the narratives of women who are long term post cancer survivors in the Netherlands. Starting with life before cancer, this thesis shared narratives that initially discuss fateful moment of cancer diagnosis that leads to a new perspective on body, emotions and identity for life during treatments and after cancer.I pull from the theories discussing social bodies and bodies in practice to learn how the narratives tell stories of bodies interacting during a time of illness and how illness creates a differently acting body after treatment. I then work through the emotional regulations shared by the participants, who highlight a changing thought process due to illness. While many fateful moments lead to a shattered identity, I share the narratives of an identity that learns to navigate life similarly to life prior cancer with a changed body and emotional perspective. The narratives are connected through discussing the relationship of negative cancer stigma connected to the three concepts of body, emotions and identity. In the end, I share how the women within my study challenge the idea of having a completely changed life after cancer through sharing positive narratives about working on one’s self and overcoming illness.