Non-doctoral factors influencing the surgical choice of Chinese patients with breast cancer who were eligible for breast-conserving surgery.

BACKGROUND: The rate of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is low in China. Many patients choose mastectomy even when informed that there is no difference in the overall survival rate compared with that of BCS plus radiotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the factors that influenced the surgical choice in patients eligible for BCS. METHODS: Female patients with breast carcinoma were enrolled in a single center from March 2016 to January 2017. They made their own decision regarding the surgical approach. Univariate analysis was employed to determine the factors associated with the different breast surgical approaches. Significant factors (defined as P < 0.05) were then incorporated into multivariate logistic regression models to determine the factors that independently influenced patients' decision. RESULTS: Of the 271 patients included, 149 were eligible for BCS; 65 chose BCS and 84 chose mastectomy. On the basis of univariate analysis, patients with younger age, higher income and education, shorter admission to surgery interval, and shorter confirmed diagnosis to surgery interval were more likely to choose BCS than mastectomy (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, patients who resided in rural regions, did not have general medicare insurance, and were diagnosed with breast cancer preoperatively were more inclined to choose mastectomy than BCS (P < 0.05). The multivariate model revealed three independent influencing factors: age at diagnosis (P = 0.009), insurance status (P = 0.035), and confirmed diagnosis to surgery interval (P = 0.037). In addition, patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) were more inclined to choose mastectomy. CONCLUSION: Surgical choice of patients eligible for BCS was affected by several factors, and age at diagnosis, confirmed diagnosis to surgery interval, and insurance status were independent factors.

Why do women accept to undergo a nipple sparing mastectomy or to reconstruct the nipple areola complex when nipple sparing mastectomy is not possible?

In a retrospective study, we investigated the reasons why women accepted to undergo a nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM) and why women who could not keep their nipple areola complex (NAC) decided to reconstruct it. We intended to investigate whether keeping the NAC plays a psychological role, to state possible advantages of NSM. Between 2004 and 2006, 310 women with NAC sparing and 143 patients with successive NAC reconstruction were mailed a single open-ended question at follow-up 12 months after final breast reconstruction surgery or final NAC reconstruction with tattoo. The purpose was to explore personal motivations that drove women to accept NSM or to perform a NAC tattoo reconstruction. Responses were classified into 11 categories by five reviewers. We performed an analysis of the relative frequency of emerging issues. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected. Among the patients who responded to the open-ended question, 190 patients preserved their NAC, and 100 patients received postponed NAC reconstruction. Women in the NSM group were significantly younger (P = 0.02), more highly educated (P < 0.0001), and more frequently lived in Northern Italy (P = 0.03). The reasons for accepting NSM were more frequently related to body image satisfaction and integrity of the body (P = 0.002), reduction of psychological distress (P = 0.003), and surgeon's influence (P < 0.0001). Esthetic reasons were highly associated to the control group. These results help us to better understand the psychological impact of NAC sparing versus NAC reconstruction. NSM was accepted because it was perceived as a technique that preserved the integrity of the body, reduced the feeling of mutilation, improved the breast cosmetic results, and reduced psychological distress regarding the loss of the breast.

Effects of music therapy on anxiety of patients with breast cancer after radical mastectomy: a randomized clinical trial.

AIM: This paper is a report of a clinical trial of the effects of music therapy on anxiety of female breast cancer patients following radical mastectomy. BACKGROUND: There is insufficient evidence on the effects of music therapy on state anxiety of breast cancer patients following radical mastectomy. METHODS: A Hall's Core, Care, and Cure Model-based clinical trial was conducted in 120 female breast cancer patients from March to November 2009. A randomized controlled design was utilized. The patients were randomly allocated to the experimental group (n = 60) received music therapy in addition to routine nursing care, and the control group (n = 60) only received routine nursing care. A standardized questionnaire and the State Anxiety Inventory were applied. The primary endpoint was the state anxiety score measured at pretest (on the day before radical mastectomy) and at three post-tests (on the day before patients were discharged from hospital, the second and third time of admission to hospital for chemotherapy respectively). RESULTS: The pretest score revealed that the majority of the patients had a moderate level (77·5%) and 15% had severe level of state anxiety. The repeated-measure ancova model analysis indicated that the mean state anxiety score was significantly lower in the experimental group than those in the control group at each of the three post-test measurements. The mean difference between the experimental and control group together with 95% confidence intervals were -4·57 (-6·33, -2·82), -8·91 (-10·75, -7·08) and -9·69 (-11·52, -7·85) at the 1st post-test, 2nd post-test and 3rd post-test respectively. CONCLUSION: Music therapy is found to have positive effects on decreasing state anxiety score.

BresDex: helping women make breast cancer surgery choices.

Women diagnosed with early breast cancer face a difficult decision between mastectomy and breast conservation surgery with radiotherapy. BresDex is an interactive decision-making support tool, designed to go together with the assistance and information these women currently receive, to help them in making the right choices. This paper will discuss the concepts behind this decision-making tool, the development of the project and the role of clinical photography within it.

Quality of life among breast cancer patients undergoing autologous breast reconstruction versus breast conserving therapy.

PURPOSE: Besides the quality of the aesthetic results, the quality of life after surgery is one of the most important criteria when reviewing different operation methods, especially in oncologic diseases. This study was performed to evaluate the difference in the health-related quality of life following breast conserving surgery and autologous breast reconstruction after mastectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hundred and forty-four breast cancer patients were included in this study. Sixty seven patients underwent breast conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy. In 77 patients a mastectomy was performed with immediate or late reconstruction. To evaluate the health-related quality of life we used the SF-36 self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: A significant difference was found in quality of life in the subscale "physical functioning" showing better results in the breast reconstruction group (P = 0.01). No significant difference was found in the other subscales, but there was a tendency to a better "emotional role" among the breast reconstruction patients. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that autologous tissue breast reconstruction in breast cancer patients did not affect adversely the health-related quality of life compared to breast conserving therapy when the quality of life is assessed by the standardized questionnaire SF-36. In particular, the physical function is not reported to be significantly influenced negatively by the more extensive surgical therapy.

Women's Educational Needs and Perceptions About Survivorship Following Bilateral Mastectomy.

BACKGROUND: More women are choosing to have a bilateral mastectomy to treat unilateral breast cancer despite it not being considered the standard of care. Women are making this choice for various reasons, including anxiety of follow-up screening of the other breast, risk of cancer recurrence for the rest of their lives, and desire to maintain control over the localized cancer. Currently, evidence-based information is lacking regarding this treatment choice. In addition, the concept of survivorship has yet to be examined in this population of women. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore women's educational needs and perceptions about survivorship following bilateral mastectomy as a treatment for unilateral breast cancer. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 women using a semistructured interview guide. Data were elicited, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. FINDINGS: Two themes were identified that addressed education and survivorship.

A clinical randomized controlled trial of music therapy and progressive muscle relaxation training in female breast cancer patients after radical mastectomy: results on depression, anxiety and length of hospital stay.

PURPOSE: To examine effects of music therapy and progressive muscle relaxation training on depression, anxiety and length of hospital stay in Chinese female breast cancer patients after radical mastectomy. METHODS: A total of 170 patients were randomly allocated to the intervention group (n = 85) receiving music therapy and progressive muscle relaxation training plus routine nursing care and the control group (n = 85) receiving routine nursing care. Music therapy and progressive muscle relaxation training were performed twice a day within 48 h after radical mastectomy, once in the early morning (6a.m.-8a.m.) and once in the evening (9p.m.-11p.m.), for 30 min per session until discharged from the hospital. RESULTS: A general linear model with univariate analysis showed that the intervention group patients had significant improvement in depression and anxiety in the effects of group (F = 20.31, P < 0.001; F = 5.41, P = 0.017), time (F = 56.64, P < 0.001; F = 155.17, P < 0.001) and group*time interaction (F = 6.91, P = 0.009; F = 5.56, P = 0.019). The intervention group patients had shorter length of hospital stay (12.56 ± 1.03) than that of the control group (17.01 ± 2.46) with statistical significance (F = 13.36, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Music therapy and progressive muscle relaxation training can reduce depression, anxiety and length of hospital stay in female breast cancer patients after radical mastectomy.

Framing and labelling effects in health descriptions: quality adjusted life years for treatment of breast cancer.

At present there is a growing interest in the use of cost-utility analysis (CUA) to a point where it merits serious consideration by health care decision makers. However, there remain a number of theoretical and practical issues to be resolved including the way in which quality of life information is presented and described to subjects. Two potential sources of influence in the construction of the quality adjusted life year (QALY) values elicited for a recent Australian CUA of mammography screening have been investigated. 180 subjects were randomly allocated to nine different presentations of two breast cancer health descriptions to investigate the impact of some framing and labelling effects. No statistically significant differences were found in the valuations placed on these descriptions when framing and labelling effects were taken into account, either as separate framing and labelling factors or as interactions with one another. A significant difference was found in the particular values of descriptions that were written in the third person that differed in terms of whether the word "cancer" was used. The main contribution of these data is to the robustness of the health descriptions used in the cost-utility analysis of mammography screening.

Treatment decision making and adjustment to breast cancer: a longitudinal study.

This study monitored women (N = 76) with breast cancer from diagnosis through 1 year, and tested constructs from subjective expected utility theory with regard to their ability to predict patients' choice of surgical treatment as well as psychological distress and well-being over time. Women's positive expectancies for the consequences of treatment generally were maintained in favorable perceptions of outcome in several realms (i.e., physician agreement, likelihood of cancer cure or recurrence, self-evaluation, likelihood of additional treatment, partner support for option, attractiveness to partner). Assessed before the surgical decision-making appointment, women's expectancies for consequences of the treatment options, along with age, correctly classified 94% of the sample with regard to election of mastectomy versus breast-conserving procedures. Calculated from the point of decision making to 3 months later, expectancy disconfirmations and value discrepancies concerning particular treatment consequences predicted psychological adjustment 3 months and 1 year after diagnosis.

Psychological morbidity in the first year after breast surgery.

In this prospective study, the psychological morbidity associated with the treatment of breast cancer was assessed. The study population comprised all patients referred to one centre with a recently diagnosed breast lump, who were to undergo surgery. Psychological morbidity was assessed preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively by modified Rotterdam Symptom Checklist. Three hundred and twenty patients completed all three questionnaires: 93 women undergoing mastectomy, 73 women having conservation therapy for breast cancer and 156 women having biopsy for benign breast disease. Patients with a breast malignancy smaller than 4 cm in diameter were treated by lumpectomy and radiotherapy, anti-oestrogen therapy or chemotherapy alone or in combination. Psychological morbidity among patients with malignant disease was significantly greater than that seen in the group with benign disease. Among cancer patients, a significant decrease in anxiety and depression occurred during the year following surgery. The study failed to demonstrate any psychological advantage associated with breast conservation.

Satisfaction with breast reconstruction in women with bilateral prophylactic mastectomy: a descriptive study.

Prophylactic bilateral mastectomy is an option for women who are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Prophylactic mastectomy is often performed with immediate reconstruction (i.e., at the same time and under the same anesthetic as the mastectomy). Satisfaction with reconstruction has been described previously for women with mastectomy for breast cancer. However, the authors know of no previous research that has reported on satisfaction with reconstruction in patients who have electively sought mastectomy for the prevention of breast cancer. Women in the province of Ontario who had undergone prophylactic bilateral mastectomy plus breast reconstruction between 1991 and 2000 were asked to rate their level of satisfaction with the cosmetic results of their mastectomy and reconstruction and their overall satisfaction with their decision to have prophylactic mastectomy. Women were also asked whether they experienced complications associated with their surgery and what types of complications they experienced. Thirty-seven women completed questionnaires for this study, and all of them had immediate breast reconstruction after prophylactic mastectomy. The majority of women (70.3 percent) reported being satisfied or extremely satisfied with the cosmetic results of their breast reconstruction. Women with self-reported postsurgical complications (16.2 percent) were significantly less satisfied with reconstruction than those who did not report complications (p = 0.009). Personal subjective risk of breast cancer before prophylactic mastectomy was negatively correlated with satisfaction with reconstruction (r = -0.38, p = 0.024) and with subjective risk estimation after prophylactic surgery (r = -0.54, p = 0.001). Women who did not worry about developing breast cancer after prophylactic mastectomy had significantly higher levels of satisfaction with breast reconstruction than those who continued to worry (p < 0.001). Women who reported an improved body image after reconstruction were significantly more likely to report higher levels of satisfaction than those who reported a diminished body image (p = 0.007). The majority of women were satisfied with the cosmetic results of breast reconstruction after prophylactic mastectomy. Women who overestimated their breast cancer risk had lower satisfaction levels. Correcting overestimation of breast cancer risk in women who have prophylactic mastectomy may improve satisfaction with reconstruction following prophylactic mastectomy.

Identification of stressors, level of stress, coping strategies, and coping effectiveness among Egyptian mastectomy patients.

The purpose of this study was to identify stressors, level of stress, coping strategies, and coping effectiveness in Egyptian female mastectomy patients. A total of 64 women who had had mastectomies participated in the study. Coping effectiveness was measured by McNett's Coping Effectiveness Questionnaire (MCEQ). Factor analysis and reliability measures were established on MCEQ using the study sample. Data were collected using a structured interview method. Participants were also asked about age, education, and time since mastectomy. These data were examined in an effort to predict coping effectiveness. The participants reported five stressors: hope for cure, treatment effectiveness, fear of the unknown, progression of the disease, and pain. The treatment effectiveness stressor had the highest mean level of stress. There was a significant difference in the level of stress among the five stressors. Coping strategies reported were categorized into four groups: faith, compliance with the medical regimen, seeking information and social support, and self-distraction. Coping effectiveness was significantly and positively correlated with age and time since mastectomy, which accounted for 35% of the variance in coping effectiveness. Findings suggest that continuing assessments of Egyptian mastectomy patients' needs, further research studies, and an intervention program to ameliorate cancer-related anxiety and to help cancer patients cope effectively may be helpful.

Conventional or adhesive external breast prosthesis? A prospective study of the patients' preference after mastectomy.

After having been subjected to radical mastectomy for breast cancer, women are usually fitted with an external breast prosthesis. Different types of prostheses are available, but oncology nurses have few data enabling them to advise their patients adequately. In this prospective randomized crossover study of 101 women undergoing one-sided mastectomy for breast cancer, the self-adhesive breast prosthesis was compared with the traditional external prosthesis. Questionnaires were used to evaluate the woman's judgment of the prosthesis in relation to her final preference for one type of prosthesis. Complete data were available for 91 women, 59.3% of whom finally preferred the self-adhesive type. Preference was independent of age, randomization, order, or the possible use of adjuvant chemotherapy. Satisfaction with the self-adhesive prosthesis was independent of randomization order but satisfaction with the traditional type was significantly more when it was the first type of prosthesis. Preference for the self-adhesive prosthesis over the traditional type mas mainly related to an increased perception of the prosthesis as a part of the body. Preference for the traditional prosthesis over the other type was mainly related to the greater ease of application and the lesser local irritation of the skin. Findings from this study can be useful in oncology nursing practice.

[Perioperative subjective emotional state]. / Perioperative subjektive Befindlichkeit.

The aim of adequate preoperative medication is to minimize the patient's anxiety level. Preoperative anxiety can be consciously and specifically orientated or it can be masked. This double-blind study was performed to evaluate the effects of an anxiolytic drug in comparison with a placebo perioperatively and to assess the post-operative course of the important factors anxiety, depression and asthenia. The Mannheim inventory for subjective state and STAI (State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory) were offered. The study was undertaken in 60 female patients, who were operated for suspected carcinoma of the breast. We conclude that in such a specific group of patients extensive preoperative psychological preparation must be backed up by the administration of an anxiolytic drug.

Breast conserving surgery and radiation in the treatment of operable breast cancer.

Breast conserving treatment (BCT) is an alternative to mastectomy, and prospective randomized trials have demonstrated that BCT and radical mastectomy result in similar actuarial survival rates. BCT should fulfil two criteria: (1) it should afford the same local control of disease as radical mastectomy, and (2) it should offer clear cosmetic and psychological advantages. This paper reviews the current status of BCT in the treatment of breast cancer. The choice of a narrow marginal tumor excision with aggressive radiation versus a wide resection with a small dose of radiation is discussed. Although the narrower marginal excisions, such as tumorectomy or lumpectomy provide the best cosmetic results, they may not provide adequate local control even when combined with aggressive irradiation. Wide resections such as quadrantectomy combined with a smaller dose of radiation, results in adequate local control, but less satisfactory cosmetic results. Although body image is better preserved by BCT, a clear enhancement of the psychological well being has yet to be established. Nevertheless, with further improvement in surgical, radiological and chemotherapeutic techniques, BCT likely will be the treatment of choice in more and more patients with operable breast cancer.

Energy fields nursing: a brief encounter of a unitary kind.

This paper explores the practical application of Martha Rogers' Science of Unitary Human Beings using a brief case study to illustrate the central concept of energy fields. Pattern manifestation appraisal and deliberative mutual patterning gave guidance for the care of a patient who had recently had a bilateral mastectomy. It is suggested that far from being a complicated and esoteric framework, the Science of Unitary Human Beings will have considerable impact on future nursing practice.

Clinical note on the use of denial in patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer.

44 patients awaiting surgery for breast cancer completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Thirteen patients had anxiety scores within the normal range, and five of them even scored extremely low in anxiety. These five and possibly all 13 patients were probably using denial as a defense against the stress of major surgery.

Legal aspects of consent 2: the different forms of consent.

Mary, following preoperative medication, was taken to theatre for a biopsy for possible breast cancer. When the theatre staff went through their checklist they could not find a consent form. The consultant surgeon said that he had seen her in the outpatients' department 2 weeks before and she had given a clear consent, not only for the biopsy but also for a radical mastectomy should the results show that to be necessary. He said that he had no problems with continuing the operation. The theatre sister was unsure of the legal position.

[Perioperative psychological status of patients undergoing radical mastectomy and total hysterectomy].

Using four different psychological tests, namely Spielberger's rating scale [The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)], Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) and Baum test, we investigated the perioperative psychological status of patients undergoing radical mastectomy for breast cancer and compared data with those of patients undergoing total hysterectomy for uterine myoma. Parameters reflecting the psychological status of hysterectomy patients disclosed lower postoperative anxiety, and slight nervousness and persistent depression perioperatively. In contrast, in patients with breast cancer, those with nervousness had persistent anxiety and depression, while those without nervousness showed the same persistent depression as in hysterectomy patients, as well as a high anxiety level postoperatively. Therefore, we speculate that the persistence of depressive mood during the perioperative period is a factor in the psychological disturbance of mastectomy patients with breast cancer, and moreover, they appear markedly apprehensive because of cancer. These results suggest that the persistence of anxiety and depressive mood associated with cancer is a prime factor in the etiology of postoperative psychological disturbance.

[Quality of life in women after mastectomy]. / Jakosc zycia kobiet po mastektomii.

The aim of the study was evaluation of quality of life of women after radical mastectomy. It was assumed that cancer of the breast, treatment and results could cause the decrease of quality of life. 107 women aged from 40 to 75 years after radical mastectomy were examined. Questionnaire made by G. Hansen at Norwegian University of Sport and Physical Education was used in all women. Questionnaire consists of 4 parts and contains 87 questions concerning general and medical data, quality of life and physical activity. Examined women had not any problems in daily activity. Most of them (about 70%) had difficulty in physical effort, particularly using upper extremities. 60% of women did not work, but they had a hobby (about 70%). Housework and daily activity were less efficient in 80% women after radical mastectomy. We observed a change in psychical status of examined women. They had some problems with concentration, irritation, irritability and sleep. These problems did not influence the family relationships and contacts with other people. Instead we noticed change in self-rating of women after radical mastectomy. Removal of breast--attribute of femininity--changed sexuality, consciousness of femininity and appearance of an image. We observed "half woman complex" in examined women. Women evaluated status of their body and quality of life from 3 to 5 in 7-gradual scale.