[Role of the attitude to work in the rehabilitation of patients with breast cancer].

The nature and changes of motivation for work as well as occupational rehabilitation planning were studied in 50 cases of radical mastectomy for breast cancer. The approach was based on the general principles of psychology and some methods of pathopsychology. Patient's motivation for work was found to be one of the major factors leading to occupational rehabilitation, the latter being less dependent on the stage of disease and surgical procedure in patients with stable motivation. The role of the immediate social environment and its beneficial effect on rehabilitation are also discussed.