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. 2011 Oct;18(11):3110-6.
doi: 10.1245/s10434-011-1917-7. Epub 2011 Sep 27.

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy: long-term consistency of satisfaction and adverse effects and the significance of informed decision-making, quality of life, and personality traits

Marlene H Frost  1 , Tanya L Hoskin, Lynn C Hartmann, Amy C Degnim, Joanne L Johnson, Judy C Boughey
Affiliations

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy: long-term consistency of satisfaction and adverse effects and the significance of informed decision-making, quality of life, and personality traits

Marlene H Frost et al. Ann Surg Oncol. 2011 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the long-term consistency of satisfaction with contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) and adverse psychosocial effects as well as to explore the effect of informed decision-making, personality traits, and quality of life (QOL) on satisfaction.

Methods: A previously established cohort of women with unilateral breast cancer who had undergone CPM between 1960 and 1993 were surveyed using study-specific and standardized questionnaires at two follow-up time points. The first survey was a mean of 10.7 years and the second survey a mean of 20.2 years after CPM.

Results: 487 of the 583 women who responded to the first study were alive and resurveyed. Data from both surveys were available for 269 women. With longer follow-up, there was a small increase in the percentage of women satisfied (90%) and those who would choose CPM again (92%) (4% and 2% increase from first survey, respectively). Most adversely affected were body appearance (31%), feelings of femininity (24%), and sexual relationships (23%). Ninety-three percent of women felt they had made an informed decision. Perception of making an informed choice and current QOL were moderately associated with satisfaction with CPM (r = 0.37 and 0.37, respectively) while associations with trait anxiety and optimism were weak (r = 0.27 and 0.21, respectively).

Conclusions: Long-term satisfaction and adverse effects remained remarkably stable. It is important that women fully understand the benefits and adverse effects associated with CPM.

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Figures

FIG. 1
FIG. 1
a Satisfaction with CPM. b Choose to have CPM again
FIG. 2
FIG. 2
Perceived effect of CPM on psychological and social variables
FIG. 3
FIG. 3
CPM decision-making
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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