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Il Yong Chung, Eunyoung Kang, Eun Joo Yang1, Jae-Young Lim1
, Eun-Kyu Kim2, Hyun-Ah Kim2, Woo Chul Noh2, Jae Il Kim3, Min Ho Park4, Jung Han Yoon4, Jeong Eon Lee5, Seok Jin Nam5, Jung-Hyun Yang5, Byoung Kil Lee6, Sung Hoo Jung6, Hyun Jo Youn6, Ku Sang Kim7, So-Youn Jung8, Byung-In Moon9, Sung-Won Kim
, Eun-Kyu Kim2, Hyun-Ah Kim2, Woo Chul Noh2, Jae Il Kim3, Min Ho Park4, Jung Han Yoon4, Jeong Eon Lee5, Seok Jin Nam5, Jung-Hyun Yang5, Byoung Kil Lee6, Sung Hoo Jung6, Hyun Jo Youn6, Ku Sang Kim7, So-Youn Jung8, Byung-In Moon9, Sung-Won Kim
Abstract
Purpose
Breast reconstruction in patients who have undergone a mastectomy is performed less frequently in Korea than in Western countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychosocial problems related to a mastectomy and awareness of reconstruction after a mastectomy in breast cancer survivors.
Methods
From March to April 2010, 252 patients who underwent a mastectomy were recruited for this survey. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics of patients, psychosocial problems related to mastectomy, and reasons not to receive breast reconstruction.
Results
Patients had difficulty going to a public bath (70.3%) or going to a swimming pool or the beach (74.6%). More than half of patients answered that their physical activity had decreased due to persistent shoulder or arm pain after the mastectomy. The most common psychological problem that patients experienced was distress over the loss of charm as a woman (66.8%), followed by considering themselves disabled (62.0%), and worries about recurrence (59.4%). The most common reason not to receive a breast reconstruction was the high cost of the operation (59.4%), followed by anxiety about complications (46.7%). Only 16.2% of patients reported that they did not receive enough information about reconstruction from their doctor. Of 229 patients, 43.7% would consider undergoing breast reconstruction in the future.
Figures and Tables
References
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