Queer women's experiences of body image and intimacy after breast cancer

What’s the title of the study?

Beyond Treatment: Queer Women's Experiences with Appearance and Functional Changes after Breast Cancer

What’s the project about?

Breast cancer treatment can cause big changes to someone’s body, both in how someone looks, and side effects of treatment such as pain or fatigue. For many women, this can damage their body image and make them feel self-conscious and less feminine. It can also impact their sexual relationships. 

Current research is mostly based on straight women. Therefore, in this study, researchers want to explore the experiences of queer women ('romantically attracted to or sexually intimate with other women', Sexual Orientation, 2019) and the impact of primary breast cancer treatment on body image and relationships. 

They hope that this research will help to shape and influence future support for queer women who have had breast cancer.

They're carrying out online interviews to hear people's experiences of body image and intimacy after receiving breast cancer treatment.

Who’s organising it?

Name of project lead: Holly Rea

Job title: Trainee Health Psychologist

Organisation: University of the West of England

Email address: holly2.rea@live.uwe.ac.uk

Who can take part?

You can take part if you

• Identify as a woman (including anyone who wholly or partially identifies with this label) 
• Are romantically attracted to or sexually intimate with other women 
• Have finished active treatment for primary breast cancer (i.e. surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy), although you can still be taking hormone treatment. 

Why do you want me to be involved? 

By sharing your experience, you’ll help increase researcher’s understanding of how breast cancer impacts queer women, and influence future support. 

What will you ask me to do?

The researchers would like to invite you to take part in an online interview. The interview will take place over Microsoft Teams and will last between 30 and 60 minutes. 

You’ll have the chance to talk about your experience of breast cancer and intimacy. You’ll also have the chance to ask any questions. 

How do I get involved?

To take part, please sign up for an interview online. You’ll be asked to read the participant information sheet and sign the consent form before scheduling the interview. 

If you have any questions, or can’t access the form, please email holly at Holly2.Rea@live.uwe.ac.uk. 

When’s the deadline?

1 October 2025