Background: This study was aimed at comparing the quality of life, body image, and perceived social support in women with breast cancer surgery. Patients and Methods: Patients receiving breast-conserving surgery (BCS) (n = 72), mastectomy alone (n = 44), and mastectomy with breast reconstruction (n = 41) were evaluated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the EORTC Breast Cancer Module (QLQ-BR23), the Body Image Scale (BIS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Results: The results indicated that the BCS group had a better body image compared with the other 2 groups and better role functioning compared with the mastectomy-alone group. In the reconstruction group, body image correlated with perceived social support, especially from family and significant others. Conclusion: These results suggest that a positive perception of a supportive social network can help women with breast reconstruction to better cope with the psychological effects of surgery on their body image.

1.
Caffo O, Amichetti M, Ferro A, et al.: Pain and quality of life after surgery for breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2003;80:39-48.
2.
Harding MM: Incidence of distress and associated factors in women undergoing breast diagnostic evaluation. West J Nurs Res 2014;36:475-494.
3.
Nissen MJ, Swenson KK, Ritz LJ, et al.: Quality of life after breast carcinoma surgery: a comparison of three surgical procedures. Cancer 2001;91:1238-1246.
4.
Rhondali W, Chisholm GB, Filbet M, et al.: Screening for body image dissatisfaction in patients with advanced cancer: a pilot study. J Palliat Med 2015;18:151-156.
5.
Fingeret MC, Nipomnick S, Guindani M, et al.: Body image screening for cancer patients undergoing reconstructive surgery. Psychooncology 2014;23:898-905.
6.
Reaby LL, Hort LK: Postmastectomy attitudes in women who wear external breast prostheses compared to those who have undergone breast reconstructions. J Behav Med 1995;18:55-67.
7.
Kenny P, King MT, Shiell A, et al.: Early stage breast cancer: costs and quality of life one year after treatment by mastectomy or conservative surgery and radiation therapy. Breast 2000;9:37-44.
8.
Amichetti M, Caffo O: Quality of life in patients with early stage breast carcinoma treated with conservation surgery and radiotherapy. An Italian monoinstitutional study. Tumori 2001;87:78-84.
9.
Hopwood P, Haviland J, Mills J, et al.: The impact of age and clinical factors on quality of life in early breast cancer: an analysis of 2208 women recruited to the UK START Trial (Standardization of Breast Radiotherapy Trial). Breast 2007;16:241-251.
10.
Biglia N, Moggio G, Peano E, et al.: Effects of surgical and adjuvant therapies for breast cancer on sexuality, cognitive functions and body weight. J Sex Med 2010;7:1891-1900.
11.
Al-Ghazal SK, Fallowfield L, Blamey RW: Comparison of psychological aspects and patient satisfaction following breast conserving surgery, simple mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Eur J Cancer 2000;36:1938-1943.
12.
Avis NE, Crawford S, Manuel J: Psychosocial problems among younger women with breast cancer. Psychooncology 2004;13:295-308.
13.
Rowland JH, Desmond KA, Meyerowitz BE, et al.: Role of breast reconstructive surgery in physical and emotional outcomes among breast cancer survivors. J Natl Cancer Inst 2000;92:1422-1429.
14.
Yurek D, Farrar W, Andersen BL: Breast cancer surgery: comparing surgical groups and determining individual differences in postoperative sexuality and body change stress. J Consult Clin Psychol 2000;68:697-709.
15.
Chang O, Choi EK, Kim IR, et al.: Association between socioeconomic status and altered appearance distress, body image, and quality of life among breast cancer patients. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2014;15:8607-8612.
16.
Helgeson VS, Cohen S: Social support and adjustment to cancer: reconciling descriptive, correlational, and intervention research. Health Psychol 1996;15:135-148.
17.
Cohen S, Wills TA: Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychol Bull 1985;98:310-357.
18.
Leedham B, Ganz PA: Psychosocial concerns and quality of life in breast cancer survivors. Cancer Invest 1999;17:342-348.
19.
Champion VL, Wagner LI, Monahan PO, et al.: Comparison of younger and older breast cancer survivors and age-matched controls on specific and overall quality of life domains. Cancer 2014;120:2237-2246.
20.
Michael YL, Berkman LF, Colditz GA, et al.: Social networks and health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors: a prospective study. J Psychosom Res 2002;52:285-293.
21.
Zimet GD, Dahlem NW, Zimet SG, Farley GK: The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. J Pers Assess 1988;52:30-41.
22.
McGarvey EL, Baum LD, Pinkerton RC, Rogers LM: Psychological sequelae and alopecia among women with cancer. Cancer Pract 2001;9:283-289.
23.
Velanovich V, Szymanski W: Quality of life of breast cancer patients with lymphedema. Am J Surg 1999;177:184-187.
24.
Aaronson NK, Ahmedzai S, Bergman B, et al.: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30: a quality of life instrument for use in international clinical trials in oncology. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993;85:365-375.
25.
Fayers PM, Aaronson NK, Bjordal K, Groenvold M, Curran D, Bottomley A; on behalf of the EORTC Quality of Life Study Group: The EORTC QLQ-C30 Scoring Manual, ed 3. Brussels, EORTC Quality of Life Group Publications, 2001.
26.
McLachlan SA, Devins GM, Goodwin PJ: Validation of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) as a measure of psychosocial function in breast cancer patients. Eur J Cancer 1998;34:510-517.
27.
Sprangers MA, Groenvold M, Arraras JI, Franklin J, te Velde A, et al.: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer breast cancer-specific quality-of-life questionnaire module: first results from a three-country field study. J Clin Oncol 1996;14:2756-2768.
28.
Hopwood P, Fletcher I, Lee A, Al-Ghazal S: A body image scale for use with cancer patients. Eur J Cancer 2001;37:189-197.
29.
Didier F, Radice D, Gandini S, et al.: Does nipple preservation in mastectomy improve satisfaction with cosmetic results, psychological adjustment, body image and sexuality? Breast Cancer Res Treat 2009;118:623-633.
30.
Cull A, Sprangers N, Bjordal K, Aaronson NK, West K, Bottomley A; on behalf of the EORTC Quality of Life Study Group: EORTC Quality of Life Group Translation Procedure, ed 2. Brussels, EORTC Quality of Life Group Publications, 2002.
31.
Prezza M, Pacilli MG: Perceived social support from significant others, family and friends and several socio-demographic characteristics. J Commun Appl Soc Psychol 2002;12:422-429.
32.
Engel J, Kerr J, Schlesinger-Raab A, Sauer H, Holzel D: Quality of life following breast-conserving therapy or mastectomy. Results of a 5-year prospective study. Breast 2004;10:223-231.
33.
Lee C, Sunu C, Pignone M: Patient-reported outcomes of breast reconstruction after mastectomy: a systematic review. J Am Coll Surg 2009;209:123-133.
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.