title: Quality-of-life and self-esteem outcomes after oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This prospective trial was designed to assess the impact of oncoplastic surgery on quality of life and self-esteem of breast cancer patients undergoing breast-conserving treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients with primary breast cancer to be treated with breast-conserving surgery and immediate partial breast reconstruction were assessed with regard to quality-of-life and self-esteem outcomes preoperatively and 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Another 42 breast cancer patients, treated by conservative surgery without breast reconstruction at least 1 year previously, were assessed for the control group. Validated questionnaires (Short Form-36, Brazilian version, and the Rosenberg-EPM Self-Esteem Scale) were used. Data were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participation rates at the follow-up assessments were 95.5 percent at the 6-month follow-up and 88.9 percent at the 12-month follow-up. Control and reconstruction groups were matched for age, body mass index, and demographic and oncologic aspects. At postoperative month 12, the breast reconstruction group had significantly better health status than the control group with regard to physical functioning (p < 0.000), health perception (p < 0.002), vitality (p < 0.007), social functioning (p < 0.02), role emotional (p < 0.02), mental health (p < 0.000), and self-esteem (p < 0.02). Compared with preoperatively, breast reconstruction group scores were significantly higher at 12 months postoperatively for seven of the eight dimensions of the Short Form-36: physical functioning (p < 0.01), role physical (p < 0.02), health perception (p < 0.02), vitality (p < 0.01), social functioning (p < 0.02), role emotional (p < 0.05), and mental health (p < 0.02). Self-esteem was also significantly better at 12 months (p < 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oncoplastic surgery had a positive impact on quality of life and self-esteem of patients undergoing breast-conserving treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. danifveiga@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Daniela F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Veiga
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Veiga-Filho
authors.forename: Leda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Ivanildo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Archangelo
authors.forename: Priscilla F R
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Balbino
authors.forename: Leci V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Caetano
authors.forename: Neil F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Novo
authors.forename: Lydia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000523:psychology*; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept