Mastectomy versus conservative surgery and radiation therapy. Psychosocial consequences

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Mastectomy versus conservative surgery plus radiation therapy for breast cancer.
• Understanding disease biology and patient psychological adaptation.
• Evaluating psychological comfort differences between local treatments for early-stage breast cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the psychological response of early-stage breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy versus conservative surgery plus radiation therapy.
• To assess differences in psychological comfort, body image, and sexual adjustment between treatment groups.

Main Methods:

• Prospective evaluation of 142 women in a clinical trial comparing mastectomy to lumpectomy and radiation therapy.
• Baseline psychological assessment before randomization.
• Follow-up questionnaires at 6, 12, and 24 months post-treatment.

Main Results:

• Mastectomy patients reported significantly less control over life events at 6 months (P=0.003).
• Mastectomy patients experienced more sexual relationship problems at 6 months (P=0.021).
• Significant differences in body distress were observed between groups at 6 and 12 months (P=0.001, P=0.019), persisting at 24 months (P=0.057).

Conclusions:

• Breast conservation therapy positively impacts women's body perception.
• Breast conservation therapy does not lead to improved sexual adjustment over time compared to mastectomy.