PSYCHOSOCIAL PROFILE OF WOMEN SEEKING BREAST RECONSTRUCTION

As opposed to studies focused on the role of reconstruction in the reh abilitation of cancer patients, the aim of this study is to define wha t kind of women undergo post-mastectomy reconstruction. The social, cu ltural and psychological variables influencing women in this choice we re assessed using a questionnaire administered to 45 women who had bre ast reconstruction and 51 who did not. An univariate analysis shows si gnificant differences between the two groups regarding age, education, socioeconomic status, leisure activities, sexual intercourse, informa tion about breast reconstruction and fear of recurrence. These results show that social status is a deciding factor in a woman's access to i nformation about reconstruction. If every women undergoing mastectomy is to be given the opportunity of plastic surgery, we think that infor mation must be adapted to psychosocial profile. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie nce Ireland Ltd.