BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To evaluate the inconvenience caused by an external prosthesis and the desire for breast reconstruction among Finnish breast cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 345 mastectomized women 2-58 months after surgery between 1989 and 1993; 176 questionnaires were eliglible for review. Response rate was 63%. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 58 years, and 91% wore an external prosthesis. Of the patients under 65 years old, 46% wished to have reconstruction, but only one patient in the group 65 years old or older was interested in reconstructive surgery. In this study, interest in reconstructive surgery did not decrease with time. Younger patients had more difficulties and inconvenience with the prosthesis in every-day life while working, enjoying leisure time pursuits and wearing clothing. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer patients under 65 years have considerable problems with external prosthesis in every-day life. This is the group of patients therefore, that should be considered when evaluating the need for breast reconstruction in the community. Of new breast cancer patients in Finland, 40% per cent are between 45 and 59; about 50-70% of them will have a mastectomy. Our study suggests that breast reconstruction is needed for about half of these patients. Therefore, the annual need for breast reconstruction in Finland involves about 370 women.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To evaluate the inconvenience caused by an external prosthesis and the desire for breast reconstruction among Finnish breast cancerpatients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 345 mastectomized women 2-58 months after surgery between 1989 and 1993; 176 questionnaires were eliglible for review. Response rate was 63%. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 58 years, and 91% wore an external prosthesis. Of the patients under 65 years old, 46% wished to have reconstruction, but only one patient in the group 65 years old or older was interested in reconstructive surgery. In this study, interest in reconstructive surgery did not decrease with time. Younger patients had more difficulties and inconvenience with the prosthesis in every-day life while working, enjoying leisure time pursuits and wearing clothing. CONCLUSIONS:Breast cancerpatients under 65 years have considerable problems with external prosthesis in every-day life. This is the group of patients therefore, that should be considered when evaluating the need for breast reconstruction in the community. Of new breast cancerpatients in Finland, 40% per cent are between 45 and 59; about 50-70% of them will have a mastectomy. Our study suggests that breast reconstruction is needed for about half of these patients. Therefore, the annual need for breast reconstruction in Finland involves about 370 women.