Influences on Satisfaction with Reconstructed Breasts and Intimacy in Younger Women Following Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy: a Qualitative Analysis.

Rachael Glassey, Moira O'Connor, Angela Ives, Christobel Saunders, Sarah J Hardcastle, kConFab Investigators

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in International journal of behavioral medicine, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Used for Assessing Breast Sensation after Mastectomy: Not Fit for Purpose.The patient · 2022
Pooled it
Patient Perspectives of "Failure" in Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Literature.Plastic surgery (Oakville, Ont.) · 2026
Review
Breast cancer patients' postoperative outcomes in nipple-sparing mastectomy and reconstruction with subpectoral implant placement: a single center experience.Gland surgery · 2024
Article
Preoperative Expectations of Women Undergoing Breast Reconstruction Surgery.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2024
Article
Management of patients with BRCA mutation from the point of view of a breast surgeon.Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2021
Review
Body Image in BRCA-Positive Young Women Following Bilateral Risk-Reducing Mastectomy: A Review of the Literature.Frontiers in psychology · 2021
Review

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Rachael GlasseyMedical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. rachael.glassey@research.uwa.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2629-7434

Moira O'ConnorSchool of Psychology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.

Angela IvesMedical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

Christobel SaundersMedical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

Sarah J HardcastleSchool of Psychology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.

kConFab Investigators

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe aim of this study was to explore the influences on satisfaction with reconstructed breasts and intimacy following bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM) in younger women (< 35) with a strong family history of breast cancer.

methodsTwenty-six women who had undergone BPM between 1 and6 years ago were recruited from New Zealand and Australia through a genetics clinic, registry, research cohort, and online (M

resultsFour themes were identified: satisfaction with breasts before surgery, outcome expectations, type of mastectomy, and open communication. Women who liked their breasts pre-BPM appeared less satisfied with their reconstructed breasts post-surgery, and women who disliked their breasts before BPM were more satisfied with their reconstructed breasts. Women with unrealistic expectations concerning the look and feel of reconstructed breasts were often unhappy with their reconstructed breasts and felt they did not meet their expectations. Unrealistic photos of breast reconstruction and satisfactory communication of realistic outcome expectations by surgeons or psychologists also appeared to influence satisfaction. Communication with partners prior to BPM appeared to improve satisfaction with intimacy post-BPM.

conclusionsThe findings suggest that satisfaction with reconstructed breasts for younger women post-BPM appeared to be influenced by realistic outcome expectations and communication with others concerning reconstructed breast appearance and intimacy post-BPM. Implications for practice include discussion of realistic reconstructed breast appearance, referral to a psychologist to discuss sensitive issues, and accurate communication of surgical risks and consequences.

Indexed as

Patient SatisfactionAdultAustraliaBreast NeoplasmsFemaleHumansMammaplastyMastectomyNew ZealandYoung AdultBody imageInfluencersIntimacyOpen communicationProphylactic mastectomyYoung women

Identifiers

PMID29713993

DOI10.1007/s12529-018-9722-3

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.