PURPOSE: Procedure (mastectomy v lumpectomy) and choice of procedure were examined as predictors of adjustment to breast cancer in a prospective study of the experiences of the first year after surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Breast cancer patients were interviewed the day before surgery, 10 days after surgery, and at the 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-ups. Patients included 24 women who received mastectomy on strong recommendation, 24 who chose mastectomy for other reasons, and 15 who chose lumpectomy. Subjective well-being was assessed in terms of mood disturbance, perceived quality of life, life satisfaction, marital satisfaction, perceptions of social support, and self-rated adjustment. RESULTS: Surgical groups differed in well-being in only one respect: lumpectomy patients reported a higher-quality sex life at 6 and 12 months postsurgery than mastectomy patients. Choice of surgical procedure predicted higher levels of life satisfaction at 3 months. CONCLUSION: The lack of difference between surgical groups in areas other than sexual adjustment replicates previous findings, but extends them by (1) using a fully prospective design, (2) providing data on the period surrounding the surgery (as well as later periods), and (3) examining a broader range of indices of well-being than usual.
PURPOSE: Procedure (mastectomy v lumpectomy) and choice of procedure were examined as predictors of adjustment to breast cancer in a prospective study of the experiences of the first year after surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Breast cancerpatients were interviewed the day before surgery, 10 days after surgery, and at the 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-ups. Patients included 24 women who received mastectomy on strong recommendation, 24 who chose mastectomy for other reasons, and 15 who chose lumpectomy. Subjective well-being was assessed in terms of mood disturbance, perceived quality of life, life satisfaction, marital satisfaction, perceptions of social support, and self-rated adjustment. RESULTS: Surgical groups differed in well-being in only one respect: lumpectomy patients reported a higher-quality sex life at 6 and 12 months postsurgery than mastectomy patients. Choice of surgical procedure predicted higher levels of life satisfaction at 3 months. CONCLUSION: The lack of difference between surgical groups in areas other than sexual adjustment replicates previous findings, but extends them by (1) using a fully prospective design, (2) providing data on the period surrounding the surgery (as well as later periods), and (3) examining a broader range of indices of well-being than usual.
Authors: Catherine M Alfano; Bonnie A McGregor; Alan Kuniyuki; Bryce B Reeve; Deborah J Bowen; Ashley Wilder Smith; Kathy B Baumgartner; Leslie Bernstein; Rachel Ballard-Barbash; Kathleen E Malone; Patricia A Ganz; Anne McTiernan Journal: Oncology Date: 2006-06-29 Impact factor: 2.935
Authors: Angel H Y Au; Wendy W T Lam; Miranda C M Chan; Amy Y M Or; Ava Kwong; Dacita Suen; Annie L Wong; Ilona Juraskova; Teresa W T Wong; Richard Fielding Journal: Health Expect Date: 2011-01-11 Impact factor: 3.377
Authors: Ashraf M Shoma; Madiha H Mohamed; Nashaat Nouman; Mahmoud Amin; Ibtihal M Ibrahim; Salwa S Tobar; Hanan E Gaffar; Warda F Aboelez; Salwa E Ali; Soheir G William Journal: World J Surg Oncol Date: 2009-08-13 Impact factor: 2.754