Body image matters to older breast cancer patients

	Tweet

Older women who undergo surgery for breast cancer often worry about their appearance afterward, and getting the treatment that best meets these concerns may improve their long-term well-being, according to a new study.

Body image after breast cancer is often regarded as a concern of younger women, with some past studies suggesting that older women are not as worried about what they will look like after having a breast or breast tissue removed.

However, the new study, of 563 breast cancer patients age 67 and up, found that many considered their physical appearance important. And nearly one-third said body image was a factor in their decision about whether to undergo a complete mastectomy or have breast-conserving surgery, in which only the tumor and surrounding tissue is removed.

Moreover, among all women who considered their physical appearance important, those who received breast-conserving surgery showed better mental health two years later compared with those who had a breast removed.

Women who were concerned about their appearance but underwent mastectomy had the poorest scores on standard tests of mental well-being, according to findings published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The findings suggest that matching treatment to older patients’ preferences about appearance, when possible, may improve their long-term quality of life, report Dr. Melissa I. Figueiredo, of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and colleagues.

Doctors, they note, should broach the topic with older women, who may rely on them to initiate such discussions.

The study involved older women who were treated for earlier-stage breast cancer at one of 29 U.S. hospitals. The women ware interviewed three months after surgery about their body image before and after the procedure, and whether appearance had been a factor in their treatment decision. They also completed a standard questionnaire on mental well-being.

Follow-up interviews were conducted one and two years after surgery.

As expected, the researchers report, women who had mastectomies had more body image concerns after surgery than those who had a breast-conserving procedure—and the women with the greatest concerns were those who considered physical appearance important but received a mastectomy. This group also scored the lowest on mental health measurements.

The researchers conclude that “prior assumptions” that body image does not matter to older women may be wrong, and that it’s important to ask these patients about the value they place on appearance when discussing treatment options.

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Oncology, October 1, 2004.

RELATED STORIES:
Breast density reduces mammogram accuracy   U.S. panel split on mentor breast implant safety   50,000 Sisters of Women with Breast Cancer Needed to Help Find Causes   New breast imaging detects smallest tumors   Radiation for breast cancer now less toxic to heart   Genentech drug helps post-surgery breast cancer   Metalworking fluids linked to breast cancer risk   Study finds breast cancer test unreliable   Mental impairment common with breast cancer   Chemical receptor linked to breast cancer spread   High carb diets may raise breast cancer risk   Some Women Use Test To Determine Whether To Seek Chemotherapy

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]