title: Are modified radical mastectomies done for T1 breast cancers because of surgeon's advice or patient's choice?
abstract: Clinical trials show that T1 breast cancers are equally well treated with breast-conserving surgery as with modified radical mastectomy. However, the Colorado Central Cancer Registry indicates that, for the past 5 years, the majority of women (72%) with T1 breast cancer in Colorado have undergone modified radical mastectomies. A questionnaire was sent to 175 general surgeons to determine the reasons for the high number of modified radical mastectomies still being performed. The results indicate that one group of surgeons (34% of those responding) believes each type of surgery has equal survival rates but unknowingly influences the patient to choose modified radical mastectomy, with a subtly biased presentation. Education of both surgeons and patients is needed to increase the number of patients with T1 breast lesions who can benefit from breast-conserving therapy.
authors.affiliation: Denver General Hospital, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center 80204-4507.
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Tarbox
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rockwood
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Abernathy
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D006801:Humans; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015996:Survival Rate