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Body image and psychological distress in women with breast cancer: a French online survey on patients’ perceptions and expectations

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Abstract

Background

Altered body image caused by alopecia, loss of eyebrows or eyelashes, or mastectomy is a major source of psychological distress in women with breast cancer.

Objective

To identify and to assess patients’ perceptions and expectations regarding altered body image.

Method

Opinion survey conducted among patients treated for breast cancer and member of French online support groups. Anonymous online self-administered survey sent to women with breast cancer.

Results

85% of the women interviewed experienced alopecia during treatment and 67% of them loss of eyebrows or eyelashes. About half of patients suffering alopecia and loss of eyebrows or eyelashes reported fearing what others think. Mastectomy was experienced by 84% of the women in our study, but only 32% of them reported fearing what others think. 87% of our study cohort received information about the possibility of adverse events. 70, 56, and 60% of women felt helped by information they received for the management of alopecia, loss of eyebrows or eyelashes, or mastectomy, respectively.

Conclusion

This study confirms that altered body image is a critical psychosocial issue for women with breast cancer. Effective information can be a source of reassurance and may constitute one of the most important sources of emotional support.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Europa donna, RS Diep, Vivre comme avant, Toujours femme, Rose Magazine, SOS Cancer du sein, HAD Clara Schuman, Oncology Department of Besancon Hospital and the participants for their cooperation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aix Marseille University, APHM, Oncopharma Unit, Chemin des Bourrely, 13015, Marseille, France

    Camille Pierrisnard & Marc Montana

  2. Aix Marseille University, APHM, Oncologie Multidisciplinaire et Innovations Thérapeutiques, Chemin des Bourrely, 13015, Marseille, France

    Marjorie Baciuchka

  3. Aix-Marseille University, Inserm, IRD, UMR912, SESSTIM, “Cancers, Biomedicine & Society” Group, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, 232 Bd Ste Marguerite, 13273, Marseille, France

    Julien Mancini

  4. APHM, BiosTIC, La Timone Hospital, 264 rue Saint Pierre, 13005, Marseille, France

    Julien Mancini

  5. Aix-Marseille University, APHM, Service Central de la Qualité et de l’Information Pharmaceutiques (SCQIP, Marseille, France

    Pascal Rathelot & Patrice Vanelle

  6. Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, Institut de Chimie Radicalaire ICR, UMR 7273, Laboratoire de Pharmaco-Chimie Radicalaire, 27 Bd Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 05, France

    Pascal Rathelot, Patrice Vanelle & Marc Montana

Authors
  1. Camille Pierrisnard
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  2. Marjorie Baciuchka
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  3. Julien Mancini
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  4. Pascal Rathelot
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  6. Marc Montana
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Contributions

CP, JM, and MM interpreted the results. CP, MM, and PV were the major contributors to the writing of the manuscript. MB and PR helped to interpret the results and write manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marc Montana.

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Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Research involving human participants

The study conforms to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and French Good Clinical Practices. According to French law (Article L1121-1, Law no 2011–2012 29 December 2011-art 5), ethical approval was not required.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in this study.

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Pierrisnard, C., Baciuchka, M., Mancini, J. et al. Body image and psychological distress in women with breast cancer: a French online survey on patients’ perceptions and expectations. Breast Cancer 25, 303–308 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-017-0828-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-017-0828-2

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