De-Escalating Breast Cancer Therapy

The potential value of de-escalation in breast cancer therapy cannot be overstated. From reducing complications and morbidity of surgical therapy to the avoidance of chemotherapy in certain populations, the benefits of eliminating low-value therapies are significant. Further, those interventions that have minimal to no benefit may also further low-risk care cascades resulting in additional treatments or interventions without associated value, with increased financial toxicity, and resulting excess health care expenditures.