BACKGROUND: Reconstruction is rarely incorporated into the decision-making process for surgical breast cancer treatment. We examined the importance of knowing about reconstruction to patients' surgical decision-making for breast cancer. METHODS: We surveyed women aged < or =79 years with breast cancer (N = 1844) who were reported to the Detroit and Los Angeles Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registries (response rate, 77.4%). The dependent variables were 1) patients' report of having a discussion about breast reconstruction with their general surgeon (yes/no), 2) whether or not this discussion had an impact on their willingness to be treated with a mastectomy (yes/no), and 3) whether the patient received a mastectomy (yes/no). The independent variables included age, race, education, tumor size, tumor behavior, and presence of comorbidities. Chi-square, Student t test, and logistic regression were used for analyses. RESULTS: Only 33% of patients had a general surgeon discuss breast reconstruction with them during the surgical decision-making process for their cancer. Surgeons were significantly more likely to have this discussion with younger, more educated patients with larger tumors. Knowing about reconstructive options significantly increased patients' willingness to consider a mastectomy (OR, 2.06; P <.01). In addition, this discussion influenced surgical treatment. Patients who discussed reconstruction with their general surgeon were 4 times more likely to receive a mastectomy compared with those who did not (OR, 4.48; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Most general surgeons do not discuss reconstruction with their breast cancer patients before surgical treatment. When it occurs, this discussion significantly impacts women's treatment choice, making many more likely to choose mastectomy. This highlights the importance of multidisciplinary care models to facilitate an informed surgical treatment decision-making process.
BACKGROUND: Reconstruction is rarely incorporated into the decision-making process for surgical breast cancer treatment. We examined the importance of knowing about reconstruction to patients' surgical decision-making for breast cancer. METHODS: We surveyed women aged < or =79 years with breast cancer (N = 1844) who were reported to the Detroit and Los Angeles Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registries (response rate, 77.4%). The dependent variables were 1) patients' report of having a discussion about breast reconstruction with their general surgeon (yes/no), 2) whether or not this discussion had an impact on their willingness to be treated with a mastectomy (yes/no), and 3) whether the patient received a mastectomy (yes/no). The independent variables included age, race, education, tumor size, tumor behavior, and presence of comorbidities. Chi-square, Student t test, and logistic regression were used for analyses. RESULTS: Only 33% of patients had a general surgeon discuss breast reconstruction with them during the surgical decision-making process for their cancer. Surgeons were significantly more likely to have this discussion with younger, more educated patients with larger tumors. Knowing about reconstructive options significantly increased patients' willingness to consider a mastectomy (OR, 2.06; P <.01). In addition, this discussion influenced surgical treatment. Patients who discussed reconstruction with their general surgeon were 4 times more likely to receive a mastectomy compared with those who did not (OR, 4.48; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Most general surgeons do not discuss reconstruction with their breast cancerpatients before surgical treatment. When it occurs, this discussion significantly impacts women's treatment choice, making many more likely to choose mastectomy. This highlights the importance of multidisciplinary care models to facilitate an informed surgical treatment decision-making process.
Authors: Amanda R Sergesketter; Samantha M Thomas; Whitney O Lane; Jonah P Orr; Ronnie L Shammas; Oluwadamilola M Fayanju; Rachel A Greenup; Scott T Hollenbeck Journal: Plast Reconstr Surg Date: 2019-06 Impact factor: 4.730
Authors: Monica Morrow; Yun Li; Amy K Alderman; Reshma Jagsi; Ann S Hamilton; John J Graff; Sarah T Hawley; Steven J Katz Journal: JAMA Surg Date: 2014-10 Impact factor: 14.766
Authors: Amy K Alderman; Sarah T Hawley; Monica Morrow; Barbara Salem; Ann Hamilton; John J Graff; Steven Katz Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2011-01-05 Impact factor: 5.344
Authors: Michelle C Roughton; Paul DiEgidio; Lei Zhou; Karyn Stitzenberg; Anne Marie Meyer Journal: Plast Reconstr Surg Date: 2016-08 Impact factor: 4.730
Authors: Dawn L Hershman; Donna Buono; Judith S Jacobson; Russell B McBride; Wei Yann Tsai; Kathie Ann Joseph; Alfred I Neugut Journal: Ann Surg Date: 2009-05 Impact factor: 12.969