Decision Regret following Treatment for Localized Breast Cancer: Is Regret Stable Over Time?

While studies suggest most women have little regret regarding their breast cancer treatment decisions immediately following treatment, no studies to date have evaluated how regret may change over time.

To measure the stability of posttreatment decision regret over time among women with breast cancer.

Women diagnosed with breast cancer between August 2005 and May 2007 reported to the Detroit, Michigan, or Los Angeles County Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry and completed surveys at 9 months following diagnosis (time 1) and again approximately 4 years later (time 2). A decision regret scale consisting of 5 items was summed to create 2 decision regret scores at both time 1 and time 2 (range, 0-20). Multivariable linear regression was used to examine change in regret from 9 months to 4 years. Independent variables included surgery type, receipt of reconstruction, and recurrence status at follow-up. The model controlled for demographic and clinical factors.

The analytic sample included 1536 women. Mean regret in the overall sample was 4.9 at time 1 and 5.4 at time 2 (P < 0.001). In the multivariable linear model, we found no difference in change in decision regret over time by surgery type. Reporting a new diagnosis of breast cancer at time 2 was associated with a 2.6-point increase in regret over time compared with women without an additional diagnosis (P = 0.003). Receipt of reconstruction was not associated with change in decision regret over time.

Decision regret following treatment was low and relatively stable over time for most women. Those facing an additional diagnosis of breast cancer following treatment may be at risk for elevated regret-related distress.