Quality of Life in Women After Mastectomy. Clinical and Social Study

Abstract

The aim: To assess the quality of life in women after mastectomy. Materials and methods: The study included 25 women after mastectomy. The patients were aged 31 to over 50 years and were members of a breast cancer support group at the Holy Cross Cancer Centre in Kielce. During group meetings, the patients underwent rehabilitation and worked with psychologists and social workers. Results: Most women after mastectomy who underwent breast reconstruction or wore breast prostheses reported a better quality of life. Mastectomy affects ipsilateral upper limb function and causes difficulty with activities of daily living, such as cleaning, cooking, brushing hair, bathing, and dressing. Conclusions: 1. All women who rated their health as poor experienced such negative emotions as sadness, low mood, dejection. 2. Mastectomy affects ipsilateral upper limb function. 3. Breast reconstruction after mastectomy improves patient-rated quality of life. 4. Pain in the ipsilateral upper limb is considerably more common in women with a limited range of motion. 5. All women who participated in breast cancer support group meetings found support there and the time they spent together resulted in an improved quality of life.

Impact of Immediate and Delayed Breast Reconstruction on Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients

“…Most study patients did not undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy (76%). The majority of study patients responded that they experienced frequent (32%) or occasional (20%) pain in their ipsilateral upper limb [ 42 ]. This shows that pain can persist for many years after a mastectomy and affect the quality of life.…”

Breast Reconstruction following Mastectomy for Breast Cancer or Prophylactic Mastectomy: Therapeutic Options and Results

“…After mastectomies, patients report a significant alteration of their quality of life (QoL) through a series of mechanisms: body dysmorphia affecting both emotional and sexual functioning, especially in younger patients [36]; pain and limited mobility in the ipsilateral upper limb; and psychological effects like negative emotions such as sadness, low mood, and dejection [37]. Although there is a significant reduction in the alteration of QoL following immediate breast reconstruction, many women tend to underestimate the impact of the mastectomy and to be overly optimistic about the impact of reconstructive surgery, and a significant proportion of them (up to 20% in some studies) come to regret breast reconstruction [36,38].…”

The mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation in the relationship between self‐concealment and quality of life among breast cancer chemotherapy patients

“…For cancer survivors, QOL became a vital consideration to understand their survival rate and the long‐term impact of treatment (Firkins et al, 2020). The consequences of the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer include not only functional and physical impairment, but also psychological and social issues (Kuliński & Kosno, 2021). Some breast cancer chemotherapy patients experience a sharp decline in QOL from diagnosis, including physical and social role functioning, and have not recovered since then (Di Meglio et al, 2022).…”