Patient evaluation of cosmetic outcome after conserving surgery for treatment of primary breast cancer

Abstract

Aims: To investigate patient self-assessment of and satisfaction with cosmetic outcome following breast-conserving treatment.

Methods: A total of 254 patients with primary breast cancer who had been treated by wide local excision (WLE) were assessed objectively for cosmesis. Patients then self-rated their own cosmetic outcome and satisfaction via a questionnaire.

Results: Seventy-two per cent of the patients stated that there was little or no difference between the treated and untreated breast. Patient satisfaction was high with 90.5% being <<moderately>> or <<very satisfied>> with their cosmetic result. There were very good correlations between the objective assessment and the patient self-assessment of the cosmetic result (chi(2)=77.98 P<0.001) and between the patient satisfaction and the patient self-assessment (chi(2)=122.65 P<0.001).

Conclusion: This study shows very good cosmetic outcome with high patient satisfaction. These cosmetic results combined with a low local recurrence rate following wide local excision validate the operative method used.