JOURNAL TIME. The August 2013 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal had study: “Quality of Life Outcomes between Mastectomy Alone and Breast Reconstruction: comparison of Pateint Reported BREAST -Q and Other Health Related Quality of Life Measures.”
What is the quality of life of women after breast cancer comparing those who did breast reconstruction versus those who did not?
They used two questionnaires: BREAST Q and RAND 36. These were sent to 92 reconstruction patients and 45 non reconstruction patients.
Results?
- Women with successful breast reconstruction were statistically significantly
- more satisfied with the appearance of their chest/breasts
- fared better psychosocially
- fared better sexually
- fared better physically
- had less pain and fewer limitations.
I know this may seem like a vacuum company telling you “vacuums are the best! you should get one!” We as plastic surgeons are in the business of reconstructing breasts. But I do think there are good points to think about here.
As the article brings up, “Prophylactic mastectomy is offered to decrease the risk of gene mutations, most notably the risk associated with BRCA. However mastectomy undoubtedly adds a traumatic burden to the lives of women diagnosed with breast cancer…breast cancer sufferers are also apprehensive about their appearance following a disfiguring operation.”
As I tell my breast cancer patients, I think reconstruction has a goal. The goal is to allow you to forget. To get past thinking about your breast and losing your breast. For a moment. Or a day. Or a week.
I want you to wake up, get dressed, go to work, see your kids, have lunches, work out, watch tv– and not think about your breasts, your cancer, your BRCA status for a moment. Reconstruction can allow you to get dressed without a constant visual reminder “I lost my breast. I have breast cancer.” That is the gift. Reconstruction is not for everyone. There are risks, recoveries, and costs with reconstruction. But it is something to consider.