Noncompliance with adjuvant radiation, chemotherapy, or hormonal therapy in breast cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
There is little information on patient-driven noncompliance of adjuvant therapies and its consequences.


METHODS
This retrospective study compares clinical, pathological features and outcomes of breast cancer patients who were compliant to recommended radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapies to those who were noncompliant.


RESULTS
Noncompliance rates for chemotherapy, radiation, and tamoxifen were 31 of 421 (7%), 30 of 855 (4%), and 294 of (37%) respectively. Old age was associated with noncompliance to chemotherapy and radiation, but younger women tend to be more often noncompliant to tamoxifen. Noncompliance with chemotherapy or radiation did not significantly affect 5-year local and distant disease-free survival rates. Noncompliance with tamoxifen was associated with decreased 5-year local and distant disease-free survivals (87% versus 96%, 76% versus 87%, respectively, P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Noncompliance with tamoxifen is the most common, resulting in significantly increased risk of local and distant disease recurrence.
Ma
Aye Moe Thu
AM
Department of Surgery, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, 1111 Amsterdam Ave, Mu 2, Section D, New York, NY 10025, USA. atma@chpnet.org
Barone
Julie
J
Wallis
Ashley E
AE
Wu
Nancy Jade
NJ
Garcia
Luiza Baez
LB
Estabrook
Alison
A
Rosenbaum-Smith
Sharon M
SM
Tartter
Paul Ian
PI
D000367:Age Factors; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen