[Quality of life in relation to patient education regarding surgical procedures in primary breast carcinoma]

(Lebensqualität in Abhängigkeit von der Aufklärung über mögliche Operationsverfahren beim primären Mammakarzinom.)

Full Abstract

Breast conserving therapy is seen as a profit according to life quality. The patients have been subjected to the surgeon suggestions during decision-making about the primary therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the degree of preoperative information of breast cancer therapy and patients' choices of treatments in cases suited for breast conserving therapy. 138 recurrence free patients after breast conserving therapy (BCT) or mastectomies (ME) due to a breast cancer staged as pT1-2N0-1M0 and missing contraindication to BCT were interviewed using an observer checklist. The degrees of preoperative information, reasons for decision to mastectomy, though BCT was possible, were correlated with the postoperative life quality. Patients decided for BCT were averaging 56.0 + 12.3 years and significantly (p < 0.05) younger than patients decided for ME (60.4 + 10.5), whereas tumor size, nodal status and adjuvant therapies were comparable. The results indicate, that subjects' choice of treatment was unrelated to the amount of information. 87% (BET) respectively 78.3% (ME) patients evaluated, that preoperative information was enough (p = 0.19). The most frequent reasons for preference of mastectomy were the "perception that survival would be diminished if mastectomy was not done" (93.5%), "avoidance of radiotherapy" (60.9%) and "no partner" (34.8%). According to expectation the body image in the BCT-group (84.8%) was significantly (p = 0.0007) more positive than in the ME-group (58.9%). Nevertheless only 5 (10.9%) patients after ME have felt sorry for their earlier decision. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to partner- and sexual adjustment as well as physical well-being. Despite being fully informed of treatment possibilities and no medical contraindications to BCT nearly one third preferred mastectomy due to different reasons. When the patient was involved in the clinical decision-making process the mastectomy indicates not generally a loss of life quality, though nearly 40% are dissatisfied with their nude body image.

Author information

Author/s: Gerber, B (B); Krause, A (A);

Affiliation: Frauenklinik der Universität Rostock.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: English Abstract; Journal Article

Journal: Zentralblatt für Gynäkologie (Zentralbl Gynakol), published in GERMANY. (Language: ger)

Reference: 1997-; vol 119 (issue 4) : pp 149-53

Dates: Created 1997/07/01; Completed 1997/07/01; Revised 2008/02/11;

PMID: 9206919, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.