Abstract
OBJECTIVES:To evaluate the impact of breast reconstruction after mastectomy on sexual function, body image, and depression.METHODS:This cross-sectional, comparative, controlled study was conducted with 90 women between 18 and 65 years of age who had undergone either mastectomy alone (mastectomy group, n=30) or mastectomy combined with breast reconstruction (mastectomy-reconstruction group, n=30) at least one year prior to the study or who had no breast cancer (control group, n=30). Patients were assessed for sexual function, depression, and body image using the validated Brazilian-Portuguese versions of the Female Sexual Function Index, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination, respectively.RESULTS:The three groups were homogeneous for age, marital status, body mass index, and education level. The women in the mastectomy group reported significantly worse sexual function, greater depressive symptoms, and lower body image than those in the mastectomy-reconstruction and control groups. In the mastectomy group, the frequency of sexual dysfunction was significantly greater among patients without a marital partner and those with a higher level of education than among patients in the other two groups with the same characteristics.CONCLUSION:Patients who had undergone breast reconstruction after mastectomy reported better sexual function and body image and fewer depressive symptoms than patients who had undergone mastectomy alone. Sexual dysfunction was associated with the absence of a marital partner and a higher level of education and was more frequent in the mastectomy group.
Highlights
Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in the general population and the most frequent cancer among women worldwide, accounting for 30% of new cancer cases each year
The study was designed to assess aspects of quality of life in women who had either undergone mastectomy alone or mastectomy combined with breast reconstruction
Women who had undergone mastectomy alone showed a significantly lower (p=0.007) total Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score than women who had undergone mastectomy combined with breast reconstruction and women in the control group, as well as significantly lower FSFI scores in all domains, except the lubrication and satisfaction domains (Table 2)
Summary
Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in the general population and the most frequent cancer among women worldwide, accounting for 30% of new cancer cases each year. Breast cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm among women in Brazil [1]. It is estimated that in 2018, approximately 59,700 new cases of breast cancer will occur, corresponding to 56.33 cases per 100,000 women [1]. Breast cancer has a relatively good prognosis when diagnosed and treated promptly. Received for publication on July 22, 2018. Accepted for publication on January 17, 2019
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