Body image in women treated for breast cancer.

Body image, as a component of self-concept, was compared in four groups of women (N = 257) who received the most common types of treatment for breast cancer: mastectomy, mastectomy with delayed reconstruction, mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, and conservative surgery. Data were collected by mailed questionnaires using self-report instruments. Comparison of groups using analysis of covariance with age as a covariate indicated that mean body image in the conservative surgery group was significantly more positive than in either the mastectomy group or in the mastectomy with immediate reconstruction group. No differences in self-concept were evident among the four groups.