The Impact of Breast Reconstruction in Women after Mastectomy in Relation to Quality of Life

Introduction: Studies conducted in 40 countries of Europe have provided evidence that breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of death among women in all countries of Europe. Mastectomy continues to be the treatment of choice, but for the majority of women this constitutes an experience that affects their quality of life. Aim: To evaluate the effect of breast reconstruction on the quality of life of women who underwent mastectomy surgery for breast cancer. Method: Search of the electronic databases MEDLINE and Science-Direct, using the keywords: “mastectomy”, “quality of life”, “breast cancer”, “reconstructive surgery”, “breast reconstruction”. Six studies were included, the language of the reports was English and the publication date was from 2000 to 2012. Results: Breast reconstruction after mastectomy had positive effects on the quality of life of women, primarily on their body image, sexuality and self-esteem, compared with women who underwent either mastectomy alone or conservative breast surgery. Breast reconstruction was also perceived to have a positive impact on the aesthetic result, which in turn is linked to better quality of life. Conclusions: Sustained up dating and training of health professionals regarding modern methods of plastic breast reconstruction is required, including the significance of such methods and their decisive influence on the quality of life and body image of women.