Subtle Differences in Quality of Life After Breast Cancer Surgery

Background: Lumpectomy with axillary dissection (LAD) has taken its place alongside mastectomy (M) as the treatment of choice for stage I and II breast cancer. Its appeal is based on lessening disfigurement and thus improving quality of life.Methods: We used the SF-36 Health Survey modified with ten questions relevant to breast cancer surgery to evaluate whether quality of life with LAD was better than with mastectomy in women with stage I and II disease. The additional questions addressed satisfaction with intimate relationships and sexuality, and explored impact on the way women dress, use bathing suits, hug people, are comfortable with nudity, and rate their sexual drive and sexual responsiveness.Results: LAD was not associated with statistically significant better quality-of-life scores on any SF-36 questions, except vitality (P = .02). No differences were noted in the areas of intimacy and sexual satisfaction. LAD patients reported significant differences in matters of dress, use of bathing suits, hugging, comfort with nudity, and sexual drive compared to patients undergoing mastectomy.Conclusions: The SF-36 health survey detected few differences in quality of life measures between patients with LAD and those with mastectomy. However, LAD impacts favorably on the way women dress, on comfort with nudity, and on sexual drive.Presented in part at the Surgical Forum of the American College of Surgeons, 82nd Annual Clinical Congress, San Francisco, CA, October 9, 1996.     

Short-Term and Long-Term Psychosocial Adjustment and Quality of Life in Women Undergoing Different Surgical Procedures for Breast Cancer

Background The various surgical procedures for early-stage breast cancer are equivalent in terms of survival. Therefore, other factors, such as the procedures’ effect on psychosocial adjustment and quality of life (QOL), take on great importance. The aim of the current study was to prospectively examine the short- and long-term effects of mastectomy with reconstruction, mastectomy without reconstruction, and breast conservation therapy on aspects of psychosocial adjustment and QOL in a sample of 258 women with breast cancer. Methods Participants completed questionnaires before surgery and then again 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Questionnaires assessed depressive symptoms, anxiety, body image, sexual functioning, and QOL. Results Adjustment patterns differed throughout the 2-year period after surgery. Some short-term changes in adjustment (less anxiety, less overall body satisfaction) were similar across surgery groups, whereas others (satisfaction with chest appearance, QOL in physical health domain) were higher for women who had breast conservation therapy. However, women who had mastectomy with reconstruction reported greater satisfaction with their abdominal area. During the long-term follow-up period (6 months to 2 years after surgery), women in all three groups experienced marked improvements in psychosocial adjustment (depressive symptoms, satisfaction with chest appearance, sexual functioning) and QOL in physical and mental health domains. In fact, the level for most variables returned to baseline levels or higher. Conclusions Overall, the general patterns of psychosocial adjustment and QOL are similar among the three surgery groups.     

针对性护理在早期乳腺癌保乳术后调强放疗患者中的应用效果

探讨给予早期乳腺癌保乳术后调强放疗患者针对性护理的效果。方法 选取2022年2月- 12月于我院行早期乳腺癌保乳术后调强放疗的102例患者为研究对象,采用随机数字表法分为对照组和观 察组,每组51例。对照组给予常规护理,观察组在对照组基础上给予针对性护理,比较两组生命质量及护 理满意度。结果 观察组干预后身体健康、社会/家庭状况、情感状况、功能状况、附加关注评分均高于对 照组（P ＜0.05）;观察组护理满意度为88.24%,高于对照组的66.67%（P ＜0.05）。结论 针对性护理在早 期乳腺癌保乳术后调强放疗患者中的应用效果确切,可有效提升乳腺癌患者的生命质量,有利于提高护理 满意度。     

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Free-Flap Breast Reconstructive Surgery over Time (PRO-BREST)

IntroductionPatient-reported outcomes (PROMs) are increasingly relevant to assess surgical quality and guide decisions in breast reconstruction (BR). Satisfaction with outcomes may change as time progresses. We assessed satisfaction in patients who underwent free-flap BR in the last 12 years.MethodsAll patients who underwent free-flap BR from 2006 to 2018 were invited to complete the validated BREAST-Q for reconstruction. The BREAST-Q comprises 6 domains covering various aspects of satisfaction. Unadjusted linear regression assessed the relationship between different domains of the BREAST-Q and time since BR. Two-sample t tests assessed differences in satisfaction between patients who underwent BR ≥5 years versus <5 years prior.ResultsForty-three women with primary or secondary free-flap BR between 2006 and 2018 were included in the study. Most patients (n = 33, 76.7%) underwent DIEP flap BR. Overall satisfaction with breasts and with outcomes improved as time since BR increased (p = 0.031 and p = 0.017, respectively). Overall satisfaction with outcomes scored higher in patients with BR ≥5 years prior (≥5 years vs. <5 years: breast score 88.6 (SD 12.5) versus 66.9 (SD 21.8); p = 0.005). Satisfaction with breasts and psychosocial well-being also scored higher in these patients. There was no difference in results between primary and secondary BR. Patients who underwent additional surgery (refinements) reported higher satisfaction with outcomes and abdominal well-being.ConclusionsPROMs concerning satisfaction with breast and with outcomes following BR improve as time since treatment progresses. This study demonstrates that time since diagnosis may be an important factor in satisfaction. It underlines the importance of long-term PROMs related to BR, to help provide patients and health care professionals in decision-making and in managing expectations related to BR.     

Outcomes After Localized Axillary Node Recurrence in Breast Cancer

Background: Localized axillary recurrence (LAR) is an uncommon event. It is estimated to occur in 0.5% to 3% of patients when adequate axillary surgery has been performed. Although relatively sparse data exist on the outcome of patients with LAR, in the era of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) these data may have increased relevance. This study assesses the survival outcomes in these patients.Methods: A retrospective chart review was completed. Patient age, tumor size, pathology, receptor status, and treatment of the primary breast carcinoma were reviewed. Axillary recurrence, treatment, and overall survival data were collected.Results: Fifteen patients were identified with LAR that developed at a median of 77 months after their initial dissection. At the time of treatment for their LAR, all patients had completion axillary clearance and six also had a concurrent completion mastectomy. Further adjuvant treatment was individualized. Five patients (33%) have died, including all patients (3) who developed a LAR within 2 years of their initial breast cancer presentation. Ten-year overall survival is 56%.Conclusion: Our experience suggests early (<24 months) LAR is indicative of a poor prognosis. With multimodal treatment, ten-year overall survival is 56%.     

Treatment of Recurrent Breast Cancer Following Breast Conserving Surgery

Patients with isolated ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence face completion mastectomy in the majority of cases. Selected patients may derive good outcomes from repeat breast conservation surgery and indeed repeat irradiation may be employed using one of many different modalities. Tumor biology rather than salvage surgery method is likely to influence outcome. Patients with isolated breast tumor recurrence are treated in the majority of cases with completion mastectomy, when for selected patients there exists little evidence that more radical surgery provides better outcomes in terms of further recurrence and overall survival, than repeated breast conserving surgery. Literature search identifying articles addressing the issue of repeat breast conserving surgery for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence, and repeat radiotherapy (search terms include: repeat breast conserving surgery, salvage mastectomy, salvage breast conserving surgery, salvage radiotherapy, reirradiation). Thirty‐five articles discussed the outcomes of repeat breast conserving surgery versus salvage mastectomy, methods of repeat breast irradiation, repeat sentinel lymph node biopsy and related factors. Repeat breast conserving surgery may represent a safe and feasible treatment method for isolated ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence.     

The Role of Oncoplastic Surgery in Breast Cancer

The authors discuss the objectives of oncoplastic surgery in breast cancer management. Indications and advantages are summarised. Some surgical techniques are described.

The authors report their own experience with oncoplastic surgery (26 patients who had immediate breast reconstruction after tumorectomy, and 126 patients who had lumpectomy alone. Oncoplastic surgery was characterised by a wider excision, with negative margins in all cases. In isolated breast conservative tumorectomy, 20% of the margins were positive, requiring re-excision or radical mastectomy.

Oncoplastic surgery is preferred especially in younger patients with smaller breasts, since it is less cosmetically mutulating and allows complete tumor resection with save margins.     

Quality-of-Life Measurement in Women with Breast Cancer

Abstract: The health-related quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer patients has been the focus of study for many years. However, it is only recently that the quality-of-life construct has been precisely defined and measured with validated, reliable instruments. The measurement of health-related quality of life and the application of this data in clinical practice has been facilitated by the publication of several QOL instruments widely used in clinical trials. Knowledge of available instruments and a growing database on quality of life following treatment for breast cancer allows clinicians and patients to better collaborate to improve patient functioning following treatment. The task for practitioners is to translate current QOL data into useful information for patients.     

整形技术在乳腺癌乳房再造治疗中的应用

乳腺癌作为多发的恶性肿瘤疾病之一,临床常采用手术方式进行治疗。近年来,国内的医学诊 断和治疗技术不断得到提高,乳腺癌的手术诊疗手段也有很大的进展。但由于部分患者切除了病变乳房, 生理及精神均受到不同程度的创伤。因此,整形外科诊疗技术在乳腺癌治疗中被广泛使用,在解决患者癌 症病灶的同时能够兼顾患者的生理形态美,保证患者生活质量。基于此,本文就乳房再造术、乳房重建手 术类型及其辅助技术作一综述,旨在为乳腺癌患者的相关手术治疗提供参考     

Surgical Procedures After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Operable Breast Cancer: Results of the GEPARDUO Trial

Background Neoadjuvant chemotherapy can increase the rate of breast-conserving surgery in patients with operable breast cancer. However, uncertainty remains regarding surgical procedures and predictors for successful breast-conserving surgery.Methods This study was an analysis of surgical data of a representative data subset of 607 patients enrolled in the GEPARDUO study. This prospective, multicenter, phase III study randomly assigned patients with operable breast cancer (≥ 2 cm) to neoadjuvant 8-week dose-dense doxorubicin plus docetaxel or a 24-week schedule of doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel (AC-DOC).Results Breast conservation was attempted in 493 (81.2%) patients, but 43 patients eventually required mastectomy, thus resulting in a breast-conserving surgery rate of 74.1%. Breast-conserving re-excision was performed in 61 patients (12.4%). Factors associated with a significantly higher breast-conserving surgery rate were a prechemotherapy tumor size ≤ 40 mm, nonlobular histological characteristics, treatment with AC-DOC, clinical response, postchemotherapy tumor size ≤ 20 mm, and treatment in a larger center (>10 enrolled patients). Nonlobular histological characteristics and intraoperative frozen-section analysis for margin evaluation were associated with significantly lower reoperation rates (P = .015).Conclusions Breast conservation after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is feasible in most patients with operable breast cancer. For surgical planning, tumor characteristics and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be taken into account. Improved breast-imaging modalities are necessary to improve detection of residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, especially when breast cancer is of lobular invasive histology. Margin assessment by intraoperative frozen-section analysis is helpful to avoid reoperation. To achieve an optimal result, an interdisciplinary surgical approach is important.     

早期乳腺癌患者保乳手术的临床疗效的分析

目的探讨在治疗早期乳腺癌时保乳手术的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析2010至2012年间进行治疗的300例早期乳腺癌患者病历,其中148例患者进行常规的改良根治术,152例患者进行保乳手术,用统计学软件SPSS 17.0分析数据。对手术时间、手术出血量、生活质量评分等计量资料数据用(±s)表示,用t检验;术后3年生存率、手术并发症等计数资料比较用χ2检验。P0.05具有统计学意义。结果进行保乳手术的患者的生活质量评分显著高于改良根治术组患者,其具体的差异表现在心理因素和身体因素(体能、身体疼痛、健康变化)方面,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);两组患者的手术时间、手术出血量、术后的生存率和并发症发生率差异无统计学意义,P0.05。结论保乳手术在治疗早期乳腺癌的临床疗效相对于传统的改良根治术的临床疗效更佳,能够更大程度的保证人体的美观,是一种适于推广的治疗方式。     

Long-term Survival After An Aggressive Surgical Approach in Patients With Breast Cancer Hepatic Metastases

Background: Metastatic breast cancer is generally believed to be associated with a poor prognosis. Therapeutic advances over the past two decades, however, have resulted in improved outcomes for selected patients with limited metastatic disease. Methods: Between March 1991 and October 2002, 31 patients had hepatic resection for breast cancer metastases limited to the liver. Clinical and pathologic data were collected prospectively from breast and hepatobiliary databases. Results: Median age of patients was 46 years (range, 31 to 70). Liver metastases were solitary in 20 patients and multiple in 11 patients. Median size of the largest liver metastasis was 2.9 cm (range, 1 to 8). Major liver resections (three or more segments resected) were performed in 14 patients, whereas minor resections (fewer than three segments resected) with or without radiofrequency ablation (RFA) were performed in 17 patients. No postoperative mortality occurred. Of the 31 patients, 27 (87%) received either preoperative or postoperative systemic therapy as treatment for metastatic disease. The median survival was 63 months; a single patient died within 12 months of hepatic resection. The overall 2- and 5-year survival rates were 86% and 61%, respectively, whereas the 2- and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 39% and 31%, respectively. No treatment- or patient-specific variables were found to correlate with survival rates. Conclusions: In selected patients with liver metastases from breast cancer, an aggressive surgical approach is associated with favorable long-term survival. Hepatic resection should be considered a component of multimodality treatment of breast cancer in these patients.     

Personality Predicts Quality of Life Six Months after the Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Disease

Background Quality of Life (QoL) is an important outcome measure in oncology. QoL is influenced by personality traits, such as anxiety. To assess the influence of personality on QoL in women with breast cancer, a longitudinal prospective cohort study was done. Methods Ninety-one patients with breast cancer and 111 patients with benign diagnoses completed prior to the diagnosis and 1, 3, and 6 months after diagnosis and treatment a set of questionnaires. Results Overall QoL showed no significant differences between the two groups. The influence of trait anxiety was considerable for all measurement moments. Trait anxiety is accountable for up to 40.6% of the variance in QoL scores. Forty-five women in the benign group scored high on trait anxiety, and 40 women in the breast cancer group. Women with a high trait anxiety score were 3 times as likely to have a low general QoL six months after diagnosis and possible surgery, irrespective of the diagnosis (breast cancer or benign problems). When the women were divided into four groups based on the diagnosis and the score on trait anxiety, there was a significant difference in scores on general QoL between the groups on all measurement moments, with a significant lower score for the two groups with a high score on trait anxiety (P < 0.001). Conclusion Trait anxiety rather than the diagnosis breast cancer determined whether patients experienced a low QoL.     

乳腺癌患者前哨淋巴结活检术后生活质量研究

目的对比分析乳腺癌患者接受前哨淋巴结活检(SLNB)与腋窝淋巴清扫(ALND)术后的生活质量。方法选择山东省肿瘤医院乳腺病中心2004年1月至2006年12月期间收治的591例乳腺癌患者,均符合SLNB的适应证,无上肢关节、血管神经疾病和颈椎疾病,分为SLNB组(n=339)和ALND组(n=252)。结果①SLNB组上臂周径在术后第1、2、3周时均与术前接近(分别P=0.232、P=0.318及P=0.415);ALND组在术后第1、2周时均明显大于术前(分别P=0.011和P=0.041),第3周时与术前接近(P=0.290)。②SLNB组肩关节最大外展角度在术后第1、2周时均明显小于术前(分别P=0.031和P=0.043),第3周时恢复至术前水平(P=0.196);ALND组在术后第1、2、3周时均明显小于术前(均P<0.001)。③ALND组接受保乳手术和接受乳腺切除术的患者的引流管留置时间均明显长于SLNB组接受乳腺切除术的患者(均P<0.001)。④ALND组患者术后感染、上肢感觉功能障碍的发生率均明显高于SLNB组(分别P=0.002和P<0.001)。结论前哨淋巴结阴性患者,SLNB替代ALND可以明显降低术后并发症,改善患者的生活质量,缩短住院时间并降低医疗费用。     

Most Breast Cancer Screening Trials Have a Flawed Design

In the present article, we discuss that why most breast cancer screening trials have a flawed origin. We suggest some solutions to correct these flaws so that more valid and reliable screening trials can be conducted in the future.     

Long-Term Morbidity of Sentinel Node Biopsy Versus Complete Axillary Dissection for Unilateral Breast Cancer

Background  Postoperative changes after axillary lymph node surgery may significantly alter breast cancer survivors’ (BCS) quality of life. Although sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has less immediate morbidity than axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), its long-term impact on shoulder abduction, arm swelling, and neurosensory changes has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to compare long-term morbidity after SLNB or ALND and breast-conservation surgery. Methods  Female BCS who remained free of disease at least 3 years after ALND or SLNB for Stage I–III unilateral breast cancer completed a symptom questionnaire and a brief neurosensory physical examination of the upper arm and axilla (range of motion, arm circumference, and sensation to light touch with cotton and needle). Results  The mean age of the 187 participating BCS was 62 years. At a mean follow-up of 6.6 years after ALND and 4.9 years after SLNB, most BCS had full abduction; only 10 cases (8 ALND, 2 SLNB) had a ≥2 cm proximal and/or distal circumference difference on the ipsilateral side compared with the contralateral side. ALND was associated with a significantly greater likelihood of subjective arm numbness (P < .001), chest or axillary numbness (P < .001), arm or hand swelling (P < .001), and objective neurosensory changes in the posterior axilla, medial and distal upper arm (P < .001). Operative procedure was the only significant predictor of neurosensory changes (P < .001). Conclusion  SLNB is associated with significantly less subjective and objective long-term morbidity than ALND.