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Psychosocial effect of mastectomy versus conservative surgery in patients with early breast cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

To compare the quality-of-life (QoL) and psycho-social changes in a group of patients with early breast cancer who underwent conservative surgery (BCS) or modified radical mastectomy (MRM).

Methods

Self-administered questionnaire assessing body image perception, social habits, sexual attraction and self-consciousness with relatives/friends, was randomly assigned to 125 patients (61 BCS, 64 MRM; aged 53±8 and 50±9 years, respectively, p=NS).

Results

MRM patients reported a significantly higher frequency of changes in body image perception and other related social behaviour such as avoiding going to the beach or using low-cut clothes, and reticence with friends. Conversely, no differences were found regarding sexuality, denial of the disease by the husband/partner, or concealing the disease from family members. Also, no significant differences were found between patients above and below the age of 50 years, for all variables studied after adjustment for surgical procedure.

Conclusions

Modified radical mastectomy has a negative effect on body image perception and in social behaviour patterns of patients and with a concomitant decrease in QoL. The sexuality of the patient is not significantly affected.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Serviço de Radioterapia, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Av. da professor Egas Moniz, 1649-035, Lisboa, Portugal

    Isabel Monteiro-Grillo & Marília Jorge

  2. Centro de Nutri¢ão e metabolismo. Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

    Isabel Monteiro-Grillo & Pedro Marques-Vidal

Authors
  1. Isabel Monteiro-Grillo
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  2. Pedro Marques-Vidal
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  3. Marília Jorge
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Correspondence to Isabel Monteiro-Grillo.

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Monteiro-Grillo, I., Marques-Vidal, P. & Jorge, M. Psychosocial effect of mastectomy versus conservative surgery in patients with early breast cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 7, 499–503 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02717003

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02717003

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