Turkish Hysterectomy and Mastectomy Patients - Depression, Body Image, Sexual Problems and Spouse Relationships

The aim of this study was to compare hysterectomy and mastectomy patients in terms of depression, bodyimage, sexual problems and spouse relations. The study group comprised 94 patients being treated in EgeUniversity Radiation Oncology Clinic, Tülay Aktaş Oncology Hospital, İzmir Aegean Obstetrics and GynecologyTraining and Research Hospital for breast and gynecological cancer (42 patients underwent mastectomy, 52 patientunderwent hysterectomy). Five scales were used in the study: Sociodemographic Data Form, Beck DepressionScale, Body Image Scale, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Golombok Rust Sexual Functions Scale. Mastectomypatients were more depressive than hysterectomy patients (t=2.78, p<0.01). Body image levels of the patientswere bad but there was no significant difference between the two patient groups (p>0.05). Hysterectomy patientshad more problems in terms of vaginismus (t=2.32, p<0.05), avoidance of sexual intercourse (t=2.31, p<0.05),communication (t=2.06, p<0.05), and frequency of sexual intercourse than mastectomy patients (t=2.10, p<0.05).As compared with compliance levels between patients and spouses; hysterectomy patients had more problemsrelated to expression of emotions than mastectomy patients (t=2.12, p<0.05). In conclusion, body image wasnegative, mastectomy was associated with more depression and hysterectomy with greater sexual problems anddifficulties with spouse relationships.