BACKGROUND: The number of breast cancer cases has sharply increased in the Brazilian population. Therefore, quality of life (QOL) and self-esteem (SE) are major causes of concern since removal of the breast can have substantial psychological and physical impacts. With the advancement of surgical techniques, however, breast reconstruction has become a standard procedure, even in the Brazilian Public Health System. METHODS: In this exploratory qualitative study, 22 recruited volunteers were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (n = 11) consisted of women who underwent mastectomy, whereas Group 2 (n = 11) comprised women who underwent mastectomy plus breast reconstruction. All subjects completed the Rosenberg Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo/Escola Paulista de Medicina, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30, and Visual Analogue Scale questionnaires. RESULTS: Group 1 subjects had a lower average emotional function than Group 2 subjects. No statistically significant difference between the two groups was observed in the SE; however, statistically significant differences were noted according to age. No differences in pain level were seen between groups . CONCLUSIONS: Women who did not undergo breast reconstruction were more emotionally fragile; however, further studies are required in an effort to obtain more statistically relevant values.
Breast neoplasms; Mastectomy; Breast; Quality of life
