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Factors that influence surgical choices in women with breast carcinoma
Author(s) -
Staradub Valerie L.,
Hsieh YiChing,
Clauson Jennifer,
Langerman Alexander,
Rademaker Alfred W.,
Morrow Monica
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.10824
Subject(s) - medicine , mastectomy , ductal carcinoma , marital status , biopsy , breast cancer , breast carcinoma , gynecology , carcinoma , breast biopsy , surgery , mammography , cancer , population , environmental health
BACKGROUND In the absence of medical contraindications, survival after undergoing breast‐conserving therapy (BCT), mastectomy (M), and mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (MIR) is equal. The authors studied demographic factors to identify the variables that differed significantly among women making different surgical choices. METHODS Women with ductal carcinoma in situ or clinical Stage I or II breast carcinoma with no contraindications for BCT or MIR who were treated between 1995 and 1998 were identified from a prospectively collected data base. Demographic and tumor factors were compared using the Fisher exact test. RESULTS There were 578 women with 586 tumors who did not have contraindications for BCT or MIR. Among this group, 85.2% of women chose BCT, 9.2% of women chose M, and 5.6% of women chose MIR. Women undergoing M alone were older and were more likely to have Stage II carcinoma compared with women undergoing BCT. Patients undergoing M or MIR were more likely to have had a prior breast biopsy compared with patients who chose BCT. Marital status and employment approached significance ( P = 0.06); however, a family history of breast carcinoma was not a predictor of treatment choice. CONCLUSIONS The current findings suggest a need for patient education strategies that emphasize the lack of influence of age and prior breast biopsy on the use of BCT. Differences in demographic variables may reflect true variations in patient preference among groups, emphasizing the need to address the spectrum of treatment options with patients. Cancer 2002;95:1185–90. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10824