The DOI matches its Crossref record; 21 of the 21 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The psychosocial impact of bilateral prophylactic mastectomy: prospective study using questionnaires and semistructured
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the psychosocial impact of bilateral prophylactic mastectomy for women with increased risk of breast cancer and to identify, preoperatively, risk factors for postoperative distress. DESIGN: Prospective study using interviews and questionnaire assessments. SETTING: Participants' homes throughout the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: 143 women with increased risk of developing breast cancer who were offered bilateral prophylactic mastectomy and who accepted or declined the surgery; a further 11 were offered surgery but deferred making a decision. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Psychological and sexual morbidity. RESULTS: Psychological morbidity decreased significantly over time for the 79 women who chose to have surgery (accepters): 58% (41/71) preoperatively v 41% (29/71) 6 months postoperatively (difference in percentages 17%, 95% confidence interval 2% to 32%; P=0.04) and 60% (39/65) preoperatively v 29% (19/65) 18 months postoperatively (31%, 15% to 47%; P<0.001). Psychological morbidity in the 64 women who declined surgery (decliners) did not decrease significantly: 57% (31/54) at baseline v 43% (23/54) at 6 months (14%, 0% to 29%; P=0.08) and 57% (29/52) at baseline v 41% (21/52) at 18 months (16%; -2% to 33%; P=0.11). Greater than normal proneness to anxiety was more common in the decliners than in the accepters: 78% (45/58) v 56% (41/73) (22%, 6% to 38%; P=0.006). Accepters were more likely than decliners to believe it inevitable that they would develop breast cancer (32% (24/74) v 10% (6/58) (difference in percentages 22%, 9% to 35%; P=0.003)), and decliners were more likely to believe that screening could help (92% (55/60) v 74% (55/74) (18%, 5% to 31%; P=0.007)). Level of sexual discomfort and degree of sexual pleasure did not change significantly over time in either of the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy may provide psychological benefits in women with a high risk of developing breast cancer.
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“These results are consistent with the findings of others [9,18,19], and indicate that the information provided at the family cancer clinic is complex, thus stressing the importance of repetitive but consistent information regarding the cancer risk by the different clinicians involved.”
From Standard psychological consultations and follow up for women at increased risk of hereditary breast cancer considering prophylactic mastectomy (2009) · cites this paper as [9]
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“Studies have shown that the majority of women following PM reported decreased (hereditary) cancer related distress while other psychosocial functioning does not appear to be significantly affected in a negative way [5,8-10].”
From Standard psychological consultations and follow up for women at increased risk of hereditary breast cancer considering prophylactic mastectomy (2009) · cites this paper as [9]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Hatcher, M. B.
- Affiliations
- The Royal Free Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Hatcher, M. B.
- Venue
- BMJ
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2001-01-13
- Volume
- 322
- Issue
- 7278
- Pages
- 76-76
- ISSN
- 0959-8138 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC26594
- OpenAlex
- W2013619739
- Cited by
- 160
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 6.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- BMJ (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Sussex Research Online (University of Sussex) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › BRCA gene mutations in cancer
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Women's cancer prevention and management
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Breast Implant and Reconstruction
- Keywords
- bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, breast cancer risk, psychosocial impact, psychological morbidity, anxiety proneness, breast cancer screening, helplessness
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Anxiety, Body Image, Breast Neoplasms, Female, Humans, Mastectomy, Middle Aged, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Sexual Behavior
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