The quality of life of patients after reconstructive breast surgery

Currently, the treatment of breast neoplasms involves not only the removal of the primary tumor, but also a systemic effect on the entire patient’s body, and therefore its effectiveness has increased significantly. Reconstructive operations for the lost breast in combination with symmetrizing operations on the contralateral breast play an important role in the early rehabilitation of patients. Their ultimate goal is to exclude psycho-social maladaptation of patients with breast neoplasms, their preservation in the surrounding society. The purpose of the study: to study the quality of life of patients who underwent surgical treatment for breast neoplasms. Objectives of the study: assessment of the degree of influence of reconstructive surgery (methods of breast reconstruction, developed postoperative complications) on the psycho-emotional status of patients in the postoperative period; comparison of methods of breast reconstruction, developed complications and their impact on quality of life; optimization of surgical tactics when choosing one or another method of breast reconstruction to achieve the best indicators of physical and psychological well-being of patients. The quality of life indicators of 70 patients who underwent reconstructive breast surgery were studied using the Beck depression questionnaire and the MOS Short Form 36 questionnaire. The patients were divided into 3 groups depending on the volume of surgical treatment. Results: the higher level of depression in group II patients compared to group I is due to the predominance of patients aged 30-49 years with a more demanding psycho-emotional status; the low level of depression in group III patients is due to the absence of malignant neoplasms, optimal results of surgical treatment with fewer complications; indicators of the physical component of health are highest in group II compared to groups I and III; low indicators of the physical component of health in patients of group III are associated with the traumatism of the resection stage of the operation; indicators of the psychological component of health are higher in group III compared to groups II and I in connection with the release of patients from the risk of breast cancer; higher indicators of the psychological component of the health of patients of groups II and III are explained by simultaneous reconstructive and reconstructive operations, excluding the psychotraumatic factor of the absence of breast cancer. Conclusions: reconstructive breast surgeries play an important role in the rehabilitation of patients who have undergone treatment for breast neoplasms.