Quality of life evaluation of women submitted to radical and partial mastectomy

Abstract

Breast cancer is among the most common neoplasms in women; its treatment may induce physical and psychological sequelae, linked to the kind of surgery they undergo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life and the negative impact of partial and radical mastectomy on women submitted to these operations. Twenty mastectomised women were selected and divided in two groups: segmentectomy group (n=10) and radical group (n=10). All volunteers were submitted to a quality of life
evaluation by means of the SF-36 Health Survey and the Negative Impact
Questionnaire (NIQ). SF-36 results showed no significant differences between the groups. Women having been submitted to radical surgery had higher NIQ scores concerning dressing, use of bathroom, hugging people, comfort when naked, sexual option and activity. Thus, although no significant differences concerning quality of life (SF-36) could be found between the groups, there is evidence of a stronger negative impact of radical mastectomy on this group when compared to the segmentectomy group.