The effects of mastektomie on social life of women with breast cancer

Breast carcinoma is at present one of the most frequent diseases of women which affects all areas of woman ´s life and becomes all-society problem. It is an oncology disease which brings a woman and her close relatives a huge psychical and physical stress. One of the possibilities to cure the breast cancer is the chirurgical removal of the whole breast (mastectomy), which is a huge change not only in woman ´s social life. The thesis gives information on breast carcinoma, risk factors for the onset of the disease, clinical symptoms, diagnostics and the treatment of breast carcinoma. Further, it describes the possibilities of reconstruction therapy, rehabilitation and psycho- social effects of cancer. The objective of the thesis was to find out if and how mastectomy influences the social life of women. For the data elaboration the method of quantitative research by means of questioning was used. The questionnaires were addressed to women with breast carcinoma after mastectomy. The research group was created by the clients of General Faculty Hospital in Prague. The questionnaires were anonymous and voluntary, in the form of 25 closed and semi-open questions. Hypothesis H1: negative influence of mastectomy depends on the partner ´s attitude and the family support, was proved. Hypothesis H2: mastectomy negatively influences single women and women without children, was also proved. Hypothesis H3: women after mastectomy are of worsened occupational use, was disproved. The research has shown that the question of solving social issue in women after mastectomy is more and more up- to-date. Average age of respondents is 51 - 60 years. In the question concerning the change of life in women after mastectomy were most frequently mentioned the problems with the change in dressing, sport activities and psychical problems. The awareness of women on rehabilitation, reconstruction operations, possibilities of using epithesis and also on the civic partnerships focused on breast diseases should improve