Satisfaction assessment in patients after oncoplastic surgery for

breast cancer without contralateral procedures for symmetrization

Author: Madalina Ligia Tigu

Co-author/s: Assistant professor Bauer Orsolya PhD, Albert Luminita PhD, Victor
Vacariu

Scientific coordinator: Senior Lecturer MD Georgescu Rares PhD

University/Hospital: General Surgery Clinic I, Emergency County Hospital Mures, Targu

Mures

Introduction: Breast cancer represents a burden for public health. A lot of patients are qualified
for oncoplastic breast surgery as a therapeutic method. Some of the most used procedures are the
„Batwing” technique, „Roundblock” technique, the „Inverted T” technique, etc. However, the
physical and psychological implications of this type of procedures are quite significant and
negatively influence the patient’s quality of life (QoL). A couple of questionaires like „BreastQ”
have been developed to objectively assess the quality of life after such procedures. The aim of
our study is to assess the QoL level in patients who have undergone oncoplastic surgery for
breast cancer without symmetrization procedures for the contralateral breast.

Material and Methods: We designed a transversal study, applied by designing a questionaire

compiled of 23 questions which evaluate the physical and psychological burden caused by the
oncoplastic surgery. It scores between 23 points and 115 points. We split the score in five
categories: Significantly Influenced QoL (SIQoL) from 23 to 34 points, Majorly Influenced QoL
(MIQoL) from 35 to 56 points, Intermediately Influenced QoL (iIQoL) from 57 to 80 points,
Minorly Influenced QoL (mIQoL) from 81 to 103 points and Insignificantly Influenced QoL
(IIQoL) from 104 to 115. We aplied it to patients who have undergone oncoplastic breast surgery
in the General Surgery Clinic I of Emergency County Hospital Mures, in a period of two years,
between January 2016 and December 2017.

Results and Discussions: From 67 questioned patients, 0% presented a SIQoL and MIQoL, 9%
reported iIQoL, 39% reported mIQoL and 52% reported IIQoL. 45 patients are living in the
rural area, while 22 live in the urban area. Regarding age distribution, for group 30 to 49 years
old, 2 reported iIQoL, 10 – mIQoL, 9 – IIQoL; for group 50 to 69 years old, 4 reported iIQoL, 13
– mIQoL, 19 – IIQoL; for group >70 years old 3 – mIQoL and 7 – IIQoL.
Conclusions: The postoperative survey among patients who underwent oncoplastic surgery for
breast cancer without symmterization procedures for the contralateral breast revealed mostly an
Insignificantly Influenced Quality of Life and Minorly Influenced Quality of Life, very few of
them reported an Intermediately Influenced Quality of Life, while none of them reported a
Majorly Influenced and Significantly Influenced Quality of Life.

Key words: Oncoplastic Breast Surgery, Quality of Life, Questionaire, Breast cancer,
Psychological burden,