Comparing the Psychological Effect of Breast Conserving Surgery with Modified Radical Mastectomy on Women Having Breast Cancer in Mashhad university of Medical sciences

Breast cancer is the most common cancer type of cancer in women. There are different techniques to remove this cancer surgically. Although modified radical mastectomy (MRM) is still considered the gold standard procedure, breast conserving surgery (BCS) is gradually establishing its place as a safe and appropriate option. The aim of the study is to compare the psychological impact of these two procedures on the patients. In this study, patients suffering from breast cancer were divided into two groups based upon their surgical procedure. Their psychological status were assessed using Farsi version of two standard assessment tools: Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Data were analyzed with Student T test, using SPSS version 14. The psychological and emotional status of both MRM and BCS groups were not significantly different before and immediately after surgery. However, all scores of symptomatic dimensions of SCL-90 in BCS group were significantly lower than MRM group. The same results were demonstrated in terms of Zung depression scale. It seemed that Psychological status of patients undergoing BCS was more favorable. However, psychological advantages of BCS will not appear soon if the patients were not instructed and educated about their own condition and the procedure which they had to undergo.