Breast-Specific Sensuality and Appearance Satisfaction: Comparison of Breast-Conserving Surgery and Nipple-Sparing...

We demonstrated previously that lumpectomy (L) patients reported higher appearance satisfaction, appreciation of a pleasurable breast caress, and persistence of the breast during intimacy than mastectomy with reconstruction, which we used to describe breast-specific sensuality. Our current objective was to compare breast-specific sensuality between L and nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM).

An anonymous, cross-sectional survey was distributed to breast cancer survivors between 2014 and 2016. Eligible patients underwent operation between 2000 and 2014, were adults older than 18 years, English-speaking, and at least one year into the post-operative period. Demographic characteristics, treatment details, Female Sexual Function Index metrics, and investigator-generated questions about appearance satisfaction and breast-specific sensuality were collected.

Of the 600 women who participated, 585 surveys were eligible. Surgical modality was reported as L by 406 (69.4%), mastectomy alone by 50 (8.5%), and mastectomy with reconstruction by 129 (22.1%). Nipple-preservation data were available for 47 of 129 mastectomy with reconstruction patients (36.4%), with 21 NSM and 26 non-nipple-sparing mastectomy patients. Favorable postoperative appearance satisfaction was reported by 76.2% of L and 71.4% of NSM (p = 0.039). Lumpectomy patients reported feeling more comfortable being seen undressed than NSM patients (82.4% vs 71.4%; p = 0.0003). The chest remained a part of intimacy for 65.4% of L patients vs 42.9% of NSM patients (p = 0.0009). A pleasurable breast caress was reported more frequently by L patients than NSM patients (66.2% vs 20%; p ≤ 0.0001). The breast caress was unpleasant for 40% of NSM patients, nearly 4-fold higher than L patients (11.3%; p < 0.0001).

NSM patients were significantly less satisfied with appearance, less comfortable being seen undressed, had decreased persistence of breast intimacy, and experienced a less pleasurable breast caress than L patients. Counseling patients about these findings will empower informed decision making, optimize expectations, and can enhance postoperative satisfaction.