[Evaluation of the impact of breast reconstruction in women in couple through a community-based research tool: The Seintinelles]

Abstract

This preliminary study explores the psychological and marital impact of breast reconstruction (or lack thereof) in women who had a mastectomy due to breast cancer. The study was carried out through an innovative and French community-based research tool on cancer: the Seintinelles. Sixty-nine partnered women treated for breast cancer participated, divided into 3 groups: 19 without breast reconstruction, 24 with immediate breast reconstruction and 26 with delayed breast reconstruction. They completed online questionnaires measuring both satisfaction and regret about the decision related to breast reconstruction, quality of life after breast surgery (EORTC-BRR), emotional state (POMS) and marital intimacy (PAIR). Recruitment through the Seintinelles had the advantage of being quick and national, but the profile of participants deviated from the mean population in the sense that our subjects were on average younger than women affected by breast cancer and had faced more breast cancer in their family. The results revealed that women are satisfied with their choice (little regret), have a similar emotional experience and good marital intimacy. However, women without breast reconstruction would less recommend their decision to others and were less satisfied with the aesthetic result, compared to women with breast reconstruction. These results highlight that psychological and marital impact seems comparable in women with and without reconstruction. Future studies are needed to better understand the role of the partner in the recourse of breast reconstruction.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Breast reconstruction; Cancer du sein; Couple; Impact psychologique; Psychological impact; Reconstruction mammaire.