Immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy--why do women choose this option?
BACKGROUND
Mastectomy is an essential but disfiguring operation in cancer treatment. The negative impact on body image can however be prevented by immediate reconstruction.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the reasons why patients choose to have or not to have immediate breast reconstruction.


METHODS
This is a cross sectional descriptive study of breast cancer patients post-mastectomy who had and had not undergone immediate breast reconstruction. The patients were asked a series of questions to ascertain the reasons why they chose or did not choose immediate breast reconstruction.


RESULTS
136 patients in total were interviewed of which 23 had undergone immediate breast reconstruction. 36.8% of the patients had been offered reconstruction. In the non-reconstructed group, the main reason for not having reconstruction were fear of additional surgery. In the group that had reconstruction done, the main reason was to feel whole again. Low on the list were reasons such as trying to improve marital or sexual relations.


CONCLUSIONS
Only a third of patients undergoing mastectomy were offered immediate reconstruction. In public hospitals in developing countries, limited operating time and availability of plastic surgery services are major barriers to more women being offered the option.
Shameem
Haque
H
Department of Surgery, University Malaya Medical Centre, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. shameemhaque@hotmail.com
Yip
Cheng Har
CH
Fong
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome