POSTMASTECTOMY ATTITUDES IN WOMEN WHO WEAR EXTERNAL BREAST PROSTHESESCOMPARED TO THOSE WHO HAVE UNDERGONE BREAST RECONSTRUCTIONS

Sixty-four women who postmastectomy wore an external breast prosthesis and 31 women who had breast reconstruction participated in the presen t study. It was hypothesized that the breast prosthesis group would ex hibit more negative attitudes towards their mastectomy experience comp ared to the breast reconstruction group. Using the Mastectomy Attitude Scale (MAS) the results indicated that both groups were satisfied wit h their bodies, had a positive outlook towards their lives, implied th at sexuality entailed more than having breasts, and felt that mastecto my treatment was necessary to save their lives. Neither group conceale d that they had a mastectomy, however they were not prone to discuss t heir mastectomy experiences. The findings from the study indicate that the women postmastectomy already had or developed positive attitudes towards themselves and life in general and the method chosen for breas t restoration had no apparent impact on these attitudes. Reasons for t he sample's positive attitudes are discussed.