RNS: Breast asymmetry research, July 8, 2008
TIME: 2:08
URL: http://www2.med.umich.edu/prmc/media/newsroom/details.cfm?ID=446
U-M Health Minute: Today’s top health issues and medical research
Breast asymmetry after cancer treatment affects quality of life, U-M study finds
Poor aesthetic outcome after lumpectomy linked to depression, fear
Suggested lead: A new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center reveals that women who experience breast asymmetry following breast conserving surgery were more likely to experience poor quality of life and fear of cancer recurrence. Here’s Andi McDonnell with more.
Most women with breast cancer assume that surgery to preserve their breast will be less disfiguring than a mastectomy that removes the entire breast.
But nearly one-third of women reported pronounced asymmetry between their breasts. And that perceived disfigurement greatly affects a woman’s quality of life after treatment, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Lead study author Dr. Jennifer Waljee (M.D., M.P.H.), a resident in general surgery at the U-M Medical School, explains…
“We found that one of the most important factors of post-operative quality of life and satisfaction was post-operative asymmetry or the aesthetic outcome that women experienced after their surgery.”
The researchers found that compared to women with little to no breast asymmetry, women whose affected breast looked significantly different were twice as likely to fear their cancer recurring and to have symptoms of depression.
Waljee says these women were also more likely to perceive themselves as less healthy and to feel stigmatized by their breast cancer treatment.
“I think for many women that are diagnosed they often have a choice between breast conserving surgery or mastectomy. They also have a choice for reconstruction after their tumor excision so it’s important for them to think about all of those issues at the time that they’re making this decision and realize that although breast conserving surgery may or may not be less disfiguring than mastectomy they’re likely to experience some asymmetry afterwards and it may or may not impact their post operative quality of life.”
Typically, surgeons counsel mastectomy patients before surgery on the types of aesthetic changes they can expect. Women who undergo breast conserving surgery may not be receiving the same level of counseling, however, leaving them with inaccurate expectations of what their breast will look like after surgery.
According to Waljee …
“It’s important for breast surgeons to have an open and honest dialog with their patients and maximize patient and provider communication and it’s very important to understand patient’s pre-operative expectations and so they can better address patients post operative recovery needs.”
Andi McDonnell, U-M Health System News.
Click here to listen to more recent radio releases Additional RNS reports are available for your use on a wide variety of topics including: cancer, children's health, depression, women's health and more!
