title: Patient demographics and treatment for early breast cancer: an observational study.
abstract: This study aims to examine relationships between demographic factors and treatment choice for early breast cancer (T2/N<1). Two hundred and two patients were offered modified radical mastectomy (MRM), breast conserving therapy (BCT) or MRM and reconstruction and interviewed at a University Hospital and oncology centre in South Wales. Median age at treatment was 57 (32-90) years. Seventy-one patients (35%) choose MRM, 10 (5%) MRM and reconstruction and 121 (60%) BCT. Median age of women choosing MRM was 61 and 55 for BC (P<0.0001). Single women (P=0.009) and those with no family history of breast cancer (P=0.02) were more likely to choose MRM. There was no difference between treatment choice and method of cancer detection and the age at which the patient left education (P=0.065). Mean histological tumour diameter was smaller for women choosing BC (15 mm) than for women choosing mastectomy (17 mm; P=0.014). There was no association between tumour grade and treatment choice.
authors.affiliation: The Cardiff Breast Unit, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Osborn
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hodin
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fielder
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vaughan-Williams
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Sweetland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors