Banana Supplementation for Breast Cancer Surgery Patients: A Two-Center Experience

Abstract

Introduction: Patients frequently encounter both physical and mental challenges after undergoing surgery for breast cancer, leading to a negative impact on their general well-being. Our objective was to investigate the beneficial effects of dietary supplementation with bananas on patients after breast cancer surgery.

Methods: Among breast cancer patients who had undergone breast surgery, the banana group (n = 77) consumed an additional banana daily alongside their regular diet, while the non-banana group (n = 77) did not. Negative emotions, sleep quality, sexual health, complication rates, length of hospital stay, and quality of life were assessed.

Results: Compared to the non-banana group, patients in the banana group exhibited lower levels of depression and anxiety, better sleep quality, more satisfactory sexual quality of life, and a higher overall quality of life postoperatively. Nonetheless, the complication rates and length of hospital stay did not show any notable variances between the 2 groups.

Conclusion: This study highlights the novel finding that simple dietary supplementation with bananas significantly enhances mental well-being and overall quality of life in breast cancer patients following surgery, despite no notable impact on physical recovery metrics.

Keywords: Banana; Breast cancer surgery; Depression and anxiety; Sexual health; Sleep quality.