[Psychological and social support for patients with mastectomies]

Cancer patients need general emotional support but doctors and nurses often fail to recognise patients needs. This literature review aims at demonstrating the effect of social and psychosocial support on breast cancer women. All the article published from 1980 were reviewed. Psychotherapeutic counselling and psychosocial interventions were given by a range of people, including nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists and volunteers. Unfortunately the poor quality of the studies, which are often small and poorly controlled, does not allow to make a definitive statement on the impact of psychosocial interventions. The multiplicity of types of intervention and outcomes used make comparisons between studies difficult. However, when considered in conjunction with the evidence that informal social support from partners, friends and relatives is associated with better outcomes, this research highlights the importance of psychosocial factors for breast cancer patients.