A survey of the body image of mastectomies women referring to Imam Khomeini and Imam Hussein hospitals in Tehran, Iran

• Main Authors: Esmaili Roghayeh, Saiidi Jila, Majd Hamid, Esmaieli Mehrdad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2010-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine
• Subjects: <i>Body Image; breast cancer; mastectomy</i>
• Online Access: http://www.ijpm.info/article.asp?issn=0253-7176;year=2010;volume=32;issue=1;spage=34;epage=37;aulast=Esmaili
• ISSN: 0253-7176; 0975-1564

<b>Background:</b> Breast cancer treatment may have severe effects on women body image. As a routine care, mastectomy may enhance the risks for anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and fear of social relationships among women. An awareness of body image changes following mastectomy may promote adaptation among women. <b>Aim:</b> The present study has sought to determine body image levels following mastectomy among females referring to clinics at Imam Khomeini and Imam Hussein Hospitals in Tehran, Iran. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> In this descriptive study, 90 women, aged 30-50, who had undergone mastectomy in least 3 weeks before the study started participated. They had no history of any previous surgery, chronic or psychological diseases. The subjects only referred to the clinics for follow-up treatment procedures such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The study benefited from a questionnaire which was validated for content. The questionnaire reliability was qualified by Cronbach Procedure (&#945;=0.8). The questionnaire included demographic information as well as information on surgery and body image. The data collected were analyzed by the SPSS software. <b>Results:</b> The study show that body image among most subjects (44.4&#x0025;) 1-3 months after mastectomy was at the "medium" level showing that 43.3&#x0025; of the subjects were in favorable conditions. The study also showed that body image for most subjects (40&#x0025;) was at the "medium" level, the image of most subjects (51.1&#x0025;) of their breasts was at: very favorable" level, the image of most subjects (31.1&#x0025;) of sexual relation was at "unfavorable" level, the image of most subjects (34.4&#x0025;) upon the feeling of what others thought of them was at "favorable" level, and the image of most subjects (40&#x0025;) of their familial relationships was at "medium" level. <b>Discussion and Conclusion:</b> Generally speaking, body image among most subjects under study was at medium-favorable levels. Since the study was conducted 1-3 months following mastectomy, and as the patients were at the recovery stages, the feelings of conquest over cancer may have caused them not to worry much about the body images.