Epicutaneous breast forms. A new system promises to improve body image after mastectomy.

Mastectomies will remain a treatment alternative for breast cancer in spite of efforts to perform more breast-conserving treatment. Restoration of body symmetry may then be an important issue, which can be achieved by surgical breast reconstruction or with an epicutaneous breast prosthesis. A new improved system has recently been developed, which is self-adhesive to the thorax wall. In this study we investigated the advantages and disadvantages of the new system. The body image of 55 patients after unilateral mastectomy was assessed before they entered the study and after approximately 6 months of experience with the system. The "Frankfurter Körperkonzeptskalen" plus additional questions concerning problems after mastectomy and the handling of the new breast form were used for the assessment. About 50% of the patients had problems with the adhesiveness of the breast form, which remains a problem to be solved. Patients who suffered badly from mastectomy, have a smooth and plane mastectomy scar, and who were not suffering from hot flushes, which can impair the adhesiveness of the prosthesis, were more likely to profit from the new self-supporting breast forms. Significant differences were observed in the scales "self-acceptance of the body", acceptance of the body by others" for the subsets of patients mentioned above. The differences were less pronounced in patients who were already familiar with another type of epicutaneous breast form, which is attached to an adhesive plate on the thorax wall by nylon touch and close fasteners. Most (90.7%) of the patients would recommend this new type of breast prosthesis for other patients with mastectomy. The concept of self-supporting breast forms is an improvement with respect to social and psychological rehabilitation. According to the manufacturer, the problem with adhesion has meanwhile been solved.