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Breast Cancer Patients’ Preferences for Adjuvant Radiotherapy Post Lumpectomy: Whole Breast Irradiation vs. Partial Breast Irradiation—Single Institutional Study

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Abstract

This study was conducted to elucidate patients with early breast cancer preference for standard whole breast irradiation (WBI) or partial breast irradiation (PBI) following lumpectomy, as well as identify important factors for patients when making their treatment decisions. Based on relevant literature and ASTRO consensus statement guidelines, an educational tool and questionnaire were developed. Consenting, eligible women reviewed the educational tool and completed the trade-off questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were calculated, as well as chi-squares and a logistic regression model. Of the 90 patients who completed the study, 62 % preferred WBI, 30 % preferred PBI, 4 % required more information, and 3 % had no preferences. Of the patients who chose WBI, 58 % preferred hypofractionated RT, whereas 25 % preferred the conventional RT regimen. The majority of patients rated recurrence rate [WBI = 55/55 (100 %), PBI = 26/26 (100 %)] and survival [WBI = 54/55 (98 %), PBI = 26/26 (100 %)] as important factors contributing to their choice of treatment preference. Financial factors [WBI = 21/55 (38 %), PBI = 14/26 (53 %)] and convenience [WBI = 36/54 (67 %), PBI = 18/26 (69 %)] were rated as important less frequently. Significantly, more patients who preferred WBI also rated standard method of treatment as important when compared to patients who preferred PBI [WBI = 52/54 (96 %), PBI = 16/26 (61 %), χ 2 = 16.63, p = 0.001]. The majority of patients with early breast cancer who were surveyed for this study preferred WBI as an adjuvant treatment post lumpectomy, yet there was a sizeable minority who preferred PBI. This was associated with the importance patients place on standard treatment. These results will help medical professionals treat patients according to patient values.

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Acknowledgments

Thank you to the patients who participated in this research project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Katija Bonin, Xingshan Cao & Alex Kiss

  2. Department of Radiation Therapy, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Merrylee McGuffin & Lisa Di Prospero

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Roseanna Presutti, Edward Chow, Danny Vesprini, Eileen Rakovitch, Justin Lee, Lawrence Paszat, Mary Doherty, Hany Soliman, Ida Ackerman & Ewa Szumacher

  4. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Tamara Harth

  5. Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Aruz Mesci

  6. Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, QCRI, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Deb Feldman-Stewart

Authors
  1. Katija Bonin
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  2. Merrylee McGuffin
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  11. Justin Lee
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  13. Mary Doherty
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  14. Hany Soliman
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  15. Ida Ackerman
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  16. Xingshan Cao
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  17. Alex Kiss
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  18. Ewa Szumacher
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ewa Szumacher.

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Bonin, K., McGuffin, M., Presutti, R. et al. Breast Cancer Patients’ Preferences for Adjuvant Radiotherapy Post Lumpectomy: Whole Breast Irradiation vs. Partial Breast Irradiation—Single Institutional Study. J Canc Educ 33, 37–43 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-016-1016-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-016-1016-3

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