Psychosocial profile of women seeking breast reconstruction

As opposed to studies focused on the role of reconstruction in the rehabilitation of cancer patients, the aim of this study is to define what kind of women undergo post-mastectomy reconstruction. The social, cultural and psychological variables influencing women in this choice were assessed using a questionnaire administered to 45 women who had breast reconstruction and 51 who did not. An univariate analysis shows significant differences between the two groups regarding age, education, socioeconomic status, leisure activities, sexual intercourse, information about breast reconstruction and fear of recurrence. These results show that social status is a deciding factor in a woman's access to information about reconstruction. If every women undergoing mastectomy is to be given the opportunity of plastic surgery, we think that information must be adapted to psychosocial profile. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.