[What patients need to know before their breast cancer surgery]

The quality of health care depends not only on physicians' medical skills but also on proper patient education. The aim of the study was to ascertain the types of information required by women before they start their breast cancer treatment.

Before a surgery, 254 patients with early breast cancer treated primarily by surgery obtained an originally developed questionnaire containing information topics assumed to be important. The patients were asked to indicate the information they had been provided and the information they required.

The majority of patients (more than 70%) knew that their disease was malignant, that they needed the surgery and what would be the extent of the resection of their breast. Markedly less patients (47.1%) knew about the planned extent of their regional lymph nodes surgery. More than 80% patients required information about their long-term expectations, such as the overall length of cancer treatment, length and extent of their anticipated physical impairment and their chances for cure. The majority of younger women (76.2%) recommended for total mastectomy required information about breast reconstruction options. A substantial proportion of older women (about 60%) were interested to learn about an anticipated cosmetic outcome and possibilities for correction of their potential defect.

Multimodal breast cancer treatment is generally managed by clinical oncologists. However, a surgeon should be enabled to discuss with the patient their cancer treatment, what it involves and how it will affect the patient's future life. It is advisable to clarify the extent of the surgery on regional lymph nodes and to engage in discussions on cosmetic outcomes of the surgery. With respect to a proper patient education, breast cancer patients should be treated by surgeons specialized in the treatment of this disease.