A Survey of the Body Image of Mastectomies Women Referring to Imam Khomeini and Imam Hussein Hospitals in Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background:Breast cancer treatment may have severe effects on women body image. As a routine care, mastectomy may enhance the risks for anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and fear of social relationships among women. An awareness of body image changes following mastectomy may promote adaptation among women.Aim:The present study has sought to determine body image levels following mastectomy among females referring to clinics at Imam Khomeini and Imam Hussein Hospitals in Tehran, Iran.Materials and Methods:In this descriptive study, 90 women, aged 30-50, who had undergone mastectomy in least 3 weeks before the study started participated. They had no history of any previous surgery, chronic or psychological diseases. The subjects only referred to the clinics for follow-up treatment procedures such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The study benefited from a questionnaire which was validated for content. The questionnaire reliability was qualified by Cronbach Procedure (α=0.8). The questionnaire included demographic information as well as information on surgery and body image. The data collected were analyzed by the SPSS software.Results:The study show that body image among most subjects (44.4%) 1-3 months after mastectomy was at the “medium” level showing that 43.3% of the subjects were in favorable conditions. The study also showed that body image for most subjects (40%) was at the “medium” level, the image of most subjects (51.1%) of their breasts was at: very favorable” level, the image of most subjects (31.1%) of sexual relation was at “unfavorable” level, the image of most subjects (34.4%) upon the feeling of what others thought of them was at “favorable” level, and the image of most subjects (40%) of their familial relationships was at “medium” level.Discussion and Conclusion:Generally speaking, body image among most subjects under study was at medium-favorable levels. Since the study was conducted 1-3 months following mastectomy, and as the patients were at the recovery stages, the feelings of conquest over cancer may have caused them not to worry much about the body images.

Obesity Should Not Prevent from TRAM Flap Breast Reconstruction in Developing Countries

“…The rate of mastectomy for breast cancer is still very high universally [1,16,18,19]. This procedure disturbs the body, self-image, and sexuality of a woman, especially in younger patients [12,16,20,21].…”

“…The rate of mastectomy for breast cancer is still very high universally [1,16,18,19]. This procedure disturbs the body, self-image, and sexuality of a woman, especially in younger patients [12,16,20,21]. Breast reconstruction has a positive effect on the psychological health of these patients [18][19][20][21][22].…”

“…In Iran, breast cancer comprises nearly one fourth of all malignancies in women [12][13][14][15] and is seen at a younger age [12,13]. Mastectomy is the most prevalent surgical treatment for breast cancer in our country [1,13,16], and the prevalence of abdominal obesity is high [17].…”

Indicadores de insatisfação relacionados à imagem corporal em pacientes submetidas à mastectomia

“…Seus resultados apontaram que o aconselhamento é eficaz para reduzir a ansiedade e a preocupação com a imagem corporal 20 . Uma investigação realizada no Irã registrou que 45,6% das mulheres usavam seios artificiais, tais como peças de algodão e lenço na região operada, como recurso para ajudá-las a enfrentar dificuldades com a sua imagem corporal 11 . Resultados de uma pesquisa qualitativa realizada na Espanha apontaram que as mulheres se preocupam com a estética corporal, o que as leva, após a mastectomia, a utilizar sutiã com pró-tese no intuito de esconder a falta da mama.…”

Systematic review of effects of pregnancy on breast and abdominal contour after TRAM/DIEP breast reconstruction in breast cancer survivors

“…Mastectomy remains one of the major surgeries for this malignancy [2,3], but this procedure disturbs the body self-image of the women [4][5][6]. Breast reconstruction attempts to reverse this negative course and thus, has a positive influence on the psychological health after mastectomy [7][8][9].…”