Breast disfigurement busts morale of women

Breast disfigurement has a serious psychological impact on a woman and her self-esteem. It takes a severe beating once she undergoes mastectomy (surgical removal of breast /breast in cancer patients), reveals a study published in Indian Journal of Oncology.

To avoid this, a majority of women in urban areas go for implants or reconstruction. They also switch to sarees and make sure surgeons keep it a secret.

The study was conducted by doctors at Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology (ICPO) under Indian Council of Medical Research, Noida, department of radiotherapy and department of surgery at Maulana Azad Medical College and LN Hospital, New Delhi. It aimed to identify psycho- and socio-behavioural disorders before, during, and after breast cancer treatment.

According to the study, breast cancer causes extreme mental stress among women, leading to many emotional disorders, such as anxiety, tension, depression, grief, anger, hopelessness, helplessness and a high degree of passivity. A majority of patients (65%) studied had very high levels of anxiety, while 39% had borderline levels of depression.

Breast cancer survivors often encounter physiological and psychological problems related to diagnosis and treatment that can influence long-term prognosis. Quality of their life is impaired by persistent depression or anxiety. All because a woman associates breasts with her image, self-esteem, femininity and reproductive and nurturing capacity.

As per the study, non-acceptance by a patient’s husband and family, fear of disfigurement and alopecia (loss of hair) and her consciousness about their image influence recovery efforts.
A majority of women studied expressed the desire for breast implants/prosthesis or reconstructive plastic surgeries. They also requested doctors to keep the fact that they have an artificial breast a secret.

“Since breast reconstruction enhances self-esteem, restores body image and gives a sense of hope and purpose, this may be the reason women often opt for breast reconstruction surgeries and prefer wearing the Indian traditional dress — saree,” the study said.

GK Rath, cancer specialist-radiotherapist and head of department of radiotherapy at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, agreed.

“The first fear in a cancer patient is losing her breast. Such patients need constant counseling, even though we always reconstruct a breast. However, breast removal happens only in the advance stages of cancer. In early stages, only a part of breast is removed and it needs no reconstruction. The body part is so perfectly stitched that there is little difference and it is not easy to detect,” he said.

On the positive side, the study claimed marriage provided a strong personal and social security to Indian women.

Of the patients studied, 57% were older than 40 and had completed their families. This helped them overcome psychological reactions relating to breast disfigurement.