LATE RESULTS FOLLOWING MASTECTOMY FOR CANCER AND BREAST RECONSTRUCTION

A series of 100 women were surgically treated for breast cancer and reconstructed by implantation of a submuscular prosthesis. The patients intensely desired the procedure and were supposed to have a realistic anticipation concerning the results. There was one late extrusion of prosthesis and one prosthesis was removed becaused of a local recurrence. Six patients had local or distant recurrences. Breast reconstruction was not a disadvantage in the treatment of these recurrences. In 48% of the cases the patients thought that the reconstructed breast was harder than desired. The corresponding figure for the independent examiner was 31%. After breast reconstruction, ipsilateral arm complications increased in number or severity by .apprx. 5%. In 82%, life-style and in 53%, social relations had improved after breast reconstruction. One of the 100 patients regretted the reconstruction and 3 were indifferent to it. For 14 patients it was so important as to be possibly psychologically vital.