TURKISH JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 1993 , Vol 8 , Num 3 - 4
N YILMAZER, A AYDINER, S ÖZKAN, IŞIK ASLAY, NİJAD BİLGE
İstanbul Ü. İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi, Psikiyatri AD As well as the medical outcomes of two distinct operations namely total mastectomy and breast-conserving therapy, their impact on the psychic structuring of the patient may differ. In view of this fact, 40 woman with total mastectomy were compared with another 40 with breast conserving therapy with regard to the variables of body image, self-esteem and social support. In breast-conserving therapy group, the measurement of positive body image was higher (p<0.001). The two group showed a negligible difference with respect to self-esteem and social support (p>0.05). Negative correlation was found between body image and social support (p<0.05). As a result, the patients with total mastectomy do have more negative body image than the patients with breast-conserving therapy. Self-esteem and social support in the postoperative period in two groups are comparabaly the same. Keywords :