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Implant Breast Reconstruction and Radiation: A Multicenter Analysis of Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life and Satisfaction

  • Breast Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Indications for radiotherapy in breast cancer treatment are expanding. Long-term satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), important outcomes after alloplastic breast reconstruction and radiation, have not been measured in irradiated patients by using a condition-specific, validated patient-reported outcomes instrument. The aim was to evaluate patient satisfaction and HR-QOL in patients with implant breast reconstruction and radiotherapy.

Methods

A multicenter cross-sectional survey of patients who underwent implant-based breast reconstruction from three centers in the United States and Canada, with and without radiation, was performed. Satisfaction with breasts, satisfaction with outcome, psychosocial well-being, sexual well-being, and physical well-being outcomes were evaluated using the BREAST-Q© (Reconstruction Module). Multivariable analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of radiotherapy on patient satisfaction with breasts with adjustment by patient and treatment characteristics.

Results

The response rate was 71 %, with 633 completed questionnaires returned. Mean follow-up was 3.3 years for irradiated patients (n = 219) and 3.7 years for nonirradiated patients (n = 414). Patients with radiation had significantly lower satisfaction with breasts (58.3 vs. 64.0; p < 0.01), satisfaction with outcome (66.8 vs. 71.4; p < 0.01), psychosocial well-being (66.7 vs. 70.9; p < 0.01), sexual well-being (47.0 vs. 52.3; p < 0.01), and physical well-being (71.8 vs. 75.1; p < 0.01) compared with nonirradiated patients. Multivariable analysis confirmed the negative effect of radiotherapy on satisfaction with breasts (β = −2.6; p = 0.03) when adjusted for patient and treatment factors.

Conclusions

Radiotherapy has a negative effect on HR-QOL and satisfaction with breasts in patients with implant reconstruction compared with nonirradiated patients. The information provided here can inform decision-making and help set appropriate expectations for patients undergoing implant breast reconstruction and radiation.

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Acknowledgement

This work was funded by the Plastic Surgery Foundation.

Disclosure

The BREAST-Q is owned by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the University of British Columbia. Drs. Pusic, Cano, and Klassen are co-developers of the BREAST-Q and receive a share of licensing revenues based on the inventor sharing policies of these two institutions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Claudia R. Albornoz MD, MSc, Evan Matros MD, MMSc, Colleen M. McCarthy MD, MS, Joseph J. Disa MD, Babak J. Mehrara MD, Peter G. Cordeiro MD & Andrea L. Pusic MD, MHS

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Anne Klassen DPhil

  3. Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, UK

    Stefan J. Cano PhD

  4. Private Practice, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Amy K. Alderman MD, MPH

  5. Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Nancy VanLaeken MD, Peter Lennox MD & Sheina A. Macadam MD, MHS

Authors
  1. Claudia R. Albornoz MD, MSc
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  2. Evan Matros MD, MMSc
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  3. Colleen M. McCarthy MD, MS
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  4. Anne Klassen DPhil
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  5. Stefan J. Cano PhD
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  6. Amy K. Alderman MD, MPH
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  7. Nancy VanLaeken MD
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  8. Peter Lennox MD
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  9. Sheina A. Macadam MD, MHS
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  10. Joseph J. Disa MD
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  11. Babak J. Mehrara MD
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  12. Peter G. Cordeiro MD
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  13. Andrea L. Pusic MD, MHS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea L. Pusic MD, MHS.

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Albornoz, C.R., Matros, E., McCarthy, C.M. et al. Implant Breast Reconstruction and Radiation: A Multicenter Analysis of Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life and Satisfaction. Ann Surg Oncol 21, 2159–2164 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-014-3483-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-014-3483-2

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