Trends in breast-conserving surgery in Connecticut: no effect of negative publicity

Trends in breast-conserving surgery (BCS) rates among 12,745 early-stage invasive breast cancers diagnosed in 1988-94 in Connecticut residents supported the effects of dissemination (around 1990) of results of clinical trials. The lack of decline in BCS from 1993 to 1994 did not support concerns about the effect of negative publicity (in early 1994) regarding fraudulent data from a large clinical trial of BCS vs modified radical mastectomy. The BCS rate reached 75% for node-negative cancers 2 cm or less in diameter diagnosed at age < 60 years in 1994, although it was lower (and declined with age) for larger and/or node-positive cancers. Further study is needed on the decision-making process regarding BCS and its full implications for the quality of life of the large numbers of women diagnosed each year with breast cancer.