Conventional or adhesive external breast prosthesis? A prospective study of the patients' preference after mastectomy

After having been subjected to radical mastectomy for breast cancer, women are usually Fitted with an external breast prosthesis. Different types of p rostheses are available, but oncology nurses have few data enabling them to advise their patients adequately. in this prospective randomized crossover study of 101 women undergoing one-sided mastectomy for breast cancer, the self-adhesive breast prosthesis was compared with the traditional external prosthesis. Questionnaires were used to evaluate the woman's judgment of th e pros thesis in relation to her final preference for one type of prosthesi s. Complete data were available for 91 women, 59.3% of whom finally preferr ed the self-adhesive type. Preference was independent of age, randomization order, or the possible use of adjuvant chemotherapy. Satisfaction with the self-adhesive prosthesis was independent of randomization order but satisf action with the traditional type was significantly more when it was the fir st type of prosthesis. Preference for the self-adhesive prosthesis over the traditional type was mainly related to an increased perception of vhe pros thesis as a part of the body. Preference for the traditional prosthesis ove r the other type was mainly related to the greater ease of application and the lesser local irritation of the skin. Findings from this study can be us eful in oncology nursing practice.