Lumpectomy versus mastectomy: Psychological and cognitive differences

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the differential impact of two types of breast cancer surgery, lumpectomy and mastectomy, on psychological and cognitive functioning. The literature reveals contradictory findings on the psychological impact of these procedures, while the effects of these treatments on cognitive functioning are essentially unknown. The present study investigated the differences between lumpectomy and mastectomy in a sample of 29 lumpectomy and 21 mastectomy patients within the age range of 46 and 70. The hypotheses of the current study were as follows: (1) participants who had undergone mastectomy would display higher levels of psychological and cognitive sequelae as compared to those who had undergone lumpectomy; (2) participants who exhibited higher levels of psychological sequelae were expected to display higher levels of cognitive problems as compared to those with lower levels of psychological problems.;The current study identified no differences in the post-surgical psychological and cognitive functioning of lumpectomy or mastectomy patients. In addition, no association was found between post-surgical psychological and cognitive functioning. Findings indicated that, regardless of the type of treatment, post-surgical cognitive impairment is prevalent among women of early stage breast cancer, thus there is a need for follow up longitudinal studies to determine the nature and duration of these impairments.