Publication:

A study of quality of life among patients undergoing mastectomy for malignant breast lesions

Background To evaluate quality of life of females after mastectomy and factors affecting the same, in various domains of life, and to assess whether a policy of mastectomy is practical or pragmatic in the scenario of low socioeconomic status prevalent in our region.

Methods Two hundred and forty post-operative mastectomized patients were clinically examined and subjected to a questionnaire designed by WHOQOL-BREF along with an ethically cleared questionnaire prepared according to the local prevailing conditions and Quality of Life was evaluated.

Results 52% patients reported no change in body image, only 2% patients reported depression. The total score of the quality of life was good for 40% of the patients with score of 96-130, followed by 55% with moderate 61-95 and only 5% patients with poor with score of <60.

Conclusions In developing countries like India where, there are no proper facilities for advanced haematological and radiological investigations, there is a severe lack of compliance between doctor and patient and there are no facilities for adjuvant and neo-adjuvant treatment, surgeons are forced to choose mastectomy as the surgery of choice for malignant breast lesions.