Breast Conserving Surgery and Modified Radical Mastectomy in Turkish Women with Breast Cancer: A Prospective Analysis of Quality of Life

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the postoperative quality of life of the patients who underwent breast conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy (BCT) and the patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy (MRM) in our clinic. Material and Methods: The patients who were operated on with diagnosis of breast cancer in our clinic between January 2006 and January 2008 were included in the study. Those who received neoadjuvant therapy and who required radiotherapy after modified radical mastectomy and those in ASA classes 3 and 4 were excluded. The patients who were treated with modified radical mastectomy were included in the first group (Group MRM) and the patients who were treated with breast conserving therapy and radiotherapy thereafter were included in the second group (Group BCT). Quality of life of the patients were assessed using Medical Outcome Syudy-Short Form 36 (MOS SF-36) form six months after their treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy) was completed. Results: There were no significant differences between two groups in terms of age, evaluated socioeconomic parameters (education, income, marital status) and clinical parameters (stage, complications, adjuvant chemotherapy). Quality of life of the patients who underwent BCT (n=27) was worse than that of general Turkish population in six of eight (except vitality and social function) SF-36 scale and worse than mean values of normal individuals in NSABP BCPT trial in seven of eight (except vitality) scales. Besides, while physical component score was worse than that of general population (45.3 vs 52.6), mental component score (MCS) was relatively similar to general population (53.4 vs 51.7). When quality of life of the patients who underwent MRM (n=23) and BCT were compared, mean values of BCT group were found to be better in all scales and the difference was found to be statistically significant in six out of eight (except vitality and social function) scales (p<0.05). Conclusion: It can be stated that quality of life of the patient who underwent BCT due to breast cancer is impaired in terms of physical status, however did not change in terms of mental status. It can also be stated that quality of life of the patients who underwent breast conserving therapy were better than the ones who underwent modified radical mastectomy in terms of both physical and mental status.