Awareness and Acceptability of Breast Reconstruction Among Women With Breast Cancer: A Prospective Survey

• Published in: JCO global oncology Vol. 7; no. 7; pp. 253 - 260
• Main Authors: Nair, Nita S, Penumadu, Prasanth, Yadav, Prabha, Sethi, Nitin, Kohli, Pavneet S, Shankhdhar, Vinaykant, Jaiswal, Dushyant, Parmar, Vani, Hawaldar, Rohini W, Badwe, Rajendra A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society of Clinical Oncology 01-12-2021
• Subjects: Breast Neoplasms - surgery; Female; Humans; Mammaplasty; Mastectomy; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; ORIGINAL REPORTS; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 2687-8941; 2687-8941
• DOI: 10.1200/GO.20.00458

Quality of life has become an integral aspect of the management of breast cancer. Many women still need to undergo a modified radical mastectomy (MRM). Factors affecting the choice a woman makes to undergo breast reconstruction (BR) are unclear and are hypothesized to be influenced by socioeconomic factors. We conducted a survey to evaluate the awareness and acceptability of BR among women with breast cancer at our institution.
A novel questionnaire was designed and served to 3 groups of women: planned for MRM, follow up (FU) post-MRM, and FU post breast-conserving surgery.
Responses were analyzed from 492 women. Of these, 280 (56.91%) were planned for MRM and 212 (43.08%) women were on FU. Almost 45% women were older than 50 years of age, and literacy rate was 87.6%. More than 70% were homemakers and 15 women (3%) were unmarried. The aspects evaluating awareness of BR suggested that 251 (51.01%) women had knowledge about BR. Major source of information was the surgeon (45.81%) and media (32.87%). About 80% women on FU post-MRM did not want reconstruction, and 55% did not opt for BR as they had coped with the mastectomy and did not feel the need for BR. Only 6% cited family or financial reasons and 10% cited recurrence concerns. Among women planned for surgery, 65.71% had not considered BR. When questioned, 25 (12.88%) felt influenced by cost, 102 (52.58%) felt they did not need it, and 20 (10.31%) were worried it would affect treatment.
Our study shows high awareness regarding BR, but only 27.89% women opt for BR independent of economic issues. We recommend all patients should be counseled about the reconstructive options when their MRM is planned.