[Psychological impacts of mastectomy in elderly people with breast cancer].

Abstract

Aging is one of the main risk factors for breast cancer and one of the most common treatment options is surgery, including mastectomy, which can result in psychological impacts on women. The scope of this article is to conduct a bibliographical survey on the psychological impacts of mastectomy on elderly women with breast cancer. It involved an integrative literature review, conducted between August and September 2023, via the VHL portal, in the following databases: LILACS, BDENF, SciELO, MEDLINE and Google Scholar. A total of 2,021 articles were located, 22 of which were selected in line with the inclusion criteria. Among the psychological impacts, fear, anguish, sadness, feelings of loss, low self-esteem, shame, changes in body image, depression and anxiety stand out, as well as positive feelings such as resilience, hope, optimism, among others, however the predominance of negative feelings tend to prevail. The conclusion drawn is that the mastectomy process is experienced individually by each woman, bringing with it physical and psychological changes. Social support from family, friends and, especially, partners, are essential aspects of a woman's well-being and mental health.