Patient demographics and treatment for early breast cancer: an observational study

This study aims to examine relationships between demographic factors and treatment choice for early breast cancer (T2/N<1). Two hundred and two patients were offered modified radical mastectomy (MRM), breast conserving therapy (BCT) or MRM and reconstruction and interviewed at a University Hospital and oncology centre in South Wales. Median age at treatment was 57 (32-90) years. Seventy-one patients (35%) choose MRM, 10 (5%) MRM and reconstruction and 121 (60%) BCT. Median age of women choosing MRM was 61 and 55 for BC (P<0.0001). Single women (P=0.009) and those with no family history of breast cancer (P=0.02) were more likely to choose MRM. There was no difference between treatment choice and method of cancer detection and the age at which the patient left education (P=0.065). Mean histological tumour diameter was smaller for women choosing BC (15 mm) than for women choosing mastectomy (17 mm; P=0.014). There was no association between tumour grade and treatment choice.