Psychological Effect of Semi-permanent Tattooing Rehabilitation in Patients with Mastectomy in 12 Months Period

Abstract

Introduction

Breast cancer is the most common cancer type in Greek women as more than 4000 new cases are diagnosed every year. Seventy percent of those patents performs a type mastectomy. The breast has a societal and social connotation of femininity, motherhood, and sexuality.

Background

Several studies support the existence of the relationship between psychological problems and mastectomy surgery. Body image and feminine self-concept also seems to influence quality of life of those women, considering the breast association of femininity, motherhood, and sexuality. During this study, we try to investigate how a non-psychiatric intervention might influence the mental state and the quality of life of those women.

Material

A clinical interview was performed in 53 women with partial or total mastectomy before 3 and 52 weeks after the rehabilitation with the method of semi-permanent tattooing.

Methods

Data were collected during the personal interviews, using Hamilton anxiety rating scale (Ham-A), body image scale and sexual activity questionnaire.

Results

Moderate levels of anxiety were identified before the rehabilitation, associated with poor body image scale scores and sexual difficulties. Both Ham-A and body image score ameliorated after 3 weeks with unchanged sexual behaviour. One year after rehabilitation, anxiety scale score raises close to initial values, body image remains unchanged, comparing with the 3rd week interview and significant improvement noticed in sexual activity.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.