• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.49-60
• /
• 2016

This study examines the similarities and differences in the clothing habits between a breast-conserving surgery group (68 patients) and a mastectomy group (45 patients). In common, both parties expressed that they did not want to conspicuously display their altered body shape from the surgical procedure, and they also confirmed that they did not want to be treated as breast cancer patients by others. On the other hand, a mastectomy group significantly preferred clothes, bras and breast prostheses which enhance the body silhouette in comparison to the patients who received breast-conserving surgery. However, the patients who received breast mastectomies reported that the bras and breast prostheses available have been expensive with low emotional satisfaction, calling for particular need in specialized clothing for female patients who undergo breast surgery. Hence, this research to further the development of clothes, bras and breast prostheses for Korean women who must undergo breast surgery would be effective in helping to improve body image and quality of life in these women.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.526-538
• /
• 2016

Breast cancer surgery result in changes in clothing style due to changes in the size of the breast as well as body shape. This study provides basic data as a fashion therapy to improve the quality of life for breast cancer patients who have to change clothing habits after surgery. The regression results found that the most important factor are pain and the amount of breast loss for clothes style changes after breast cancer surgery. Breast cancer patients suffer pain relative to the proximity to the date of surgery and regardless of the breast cancer resection range. However, the changes in clothes style relates to the amount of pain and breast reduction range. The t-test results on the change of the clothing styles for before and after breast cancer surgery showed that women significantly prefer comfortable clothes with sleeves and consider a closure style on clothes to put on and take off instead of clothes that are tight-fitting, have thin fabric or deep neck lines. Painful breast cancer results in women who prefer closure style on clothes, front closure clothes and garments that hide body shape. However, the larger reduction range of breast cancer patients and those with painful breast cancer prefer garments that hide body shape and are looser size clothes with sleeves.