In too many cases, doctors aren't doing a good job of informing American women with early stage breast cancer about the disease or their options in terms of surgery, a new study suggests.
In the study, researchers at the University of North Carolina surveyed breast cancer survivors on their knowledge of the disease. Respondents typically answered only about half of the questions correctly, and less than half said their surgeons had even asked them about their personal preference for surgery -- a full mastectomy vs. breast-conserving lumpectomy -- prior to treatment.
"We found that breast cancer survivors had fairly major gaps in their knowledge about their surgical options, including about the implications for recurrence and survival," said study lead author Dr. Clara Lee, an associate professor of surgery and director of surgical research at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill.
The paper was published in the January issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in women, and is the leading cause of death in women younger than 50 in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.
“By tailoring adjuvant therapy regimens and giving cytotoxic therapy only to those who may benefit, we can mitigate some of these side effects, but the long life expectancy for these younger women also provides a window of opportunity for cancer prevention and health-promotion activities,” the study concluded.
American Cancer Society estimates show that of the 182,460 new cases of breast cancer in females each year, an estimated 10,000 will be women younger than 40 and nearly 23,000 younger than 45, according to the Young Survival Coalition, a national advocacy group based in New York City. Breast cancers account for 26 percent of all cancer in females ages 15 to 39 and 39 percent of women ages 35 to 39.
Younger women find it more difficult to embrace their new body after cancer-related surgery. Whether they are married or single, they also face intimacy issues in dating and relationships, according to the coalition. Treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can also affect a woman’s plans to have children, sometimes rendering her infertile.
When women are younger, they are more apt to be working and a cancer diagnosis can hit them hard economically as they struggle to keep working. Additionally, many will not have health insurance or their plans might not adequately cover cancer treatments.
“Appearance is a big deal, and not in a vain way,” Vazquez said. “I was in the field working and didn’t want clients to say, ‘Oh, poor pitiful Nicole has cancer.’”
She is in a long-term relationship now and, with an irregular menstrual cycle, is wondering whether she will ever have children. Because her “triple negative” form of cancer was so virulent, Vazquez had no time to freeze her eggs before chemotherapy.
But she remains upbeat and mentors other young cancer survivors through theSusan G. Komen Foundation in Dallas. She knows young women, particularly, need support.
In its own studies, the Komen foundation has found that quality of life issues are widespread, troubling and require attention from health care providers and survivors.
In the study, researchers at the University of North Carolina surveyed breast cancer survivors on their knowledge of the disease. Respondents typically answered only about half of the questions correctly, and less than half said their surgeons had even asked them about their personal preference for surgery -- a full mastectomy vs. breast-conserving lumpectomy -- prior to treatment.
"We found that breast cancer survivors had fairly major gaps in their knowledge about their surgical options, including about the implications for recurrence and survival," said study lead author Dr. Clara Lee, an associate professor of surgery and director of surgical research at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill.
The paper was published in the January issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in women, and is the leading cause of death in women younger than 50 in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.
“By tailoring adjuvant therapy regimens and giving cytotoxic therapy only to those who may benefit, we can mitigate some of these side effects, but the long life expectancy for these younger women also provides a window of opportunity for cancer prevention and health-promotion activities,” the study concluded.
American Cancer Society estimates show that of the 182,460 new cases of breast cancer in females each year, an estimated 10,000 will be women younger than 40 and nearly 23,000 younger than 45, according to the Young Survival Coalition, a national advocacy group based in New York City. Breast cancers account for 26 percent of all cancer in females ages 15 to 39 and 39 percent of women ages 35 to 39.
Younger women find it more difficult to embrace their new body after cancer-related surgery. Whether they are married or single, they also face intimacy issues in dating and relationships, according to the coalition. Treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can also affect a woman’s plans to have children, sometimes rendering her infertile.
When women are younger, they are more apt to be working and a cancer diagnosis can hit them hard economically as they struggle to keep working. Additionally, many will not have health insurance or their plans might not adequately cover cancer treatments.
“Appearance is a big deal, and not in a vain way,” Vazquez said. “I was in the field working and didn’t want clients to say, ‘Oh, poor pitiful Nicole has cancer.’”
She is in a long-term relationship now and, with an irregular menstrual cycle, is wondering whether she will ever have children. Because her “triple negative” form of cancer was so virulent, Vazquez had no time to freeze her eggs before chemotherapy.
But she remains upbeat and mentors other young cancer survivors through theSusan G. Komen Foundation in Dallas. She knows young women, particularly, need support.
In its own studies, the Komen foundation has found that quality of life issues are widespread, troubling and require attention from health care providers and survivors.
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