Breast cancer surgery rated highly by patients

Wednesday June 30th, 2010

Breast cancer patients who undergo mastectomy or breast reconstruction are generally pleased with the care they receive in the UK, according to a major survey.

The new National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit includes all patients treated between 1 January 2008 and 31 March 2009. It evaluates the care process and measures treatment outcomes for patients with breast cancer undergoing mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery.

This third audit uses figures from 6,963 patients, collected at all 150 English NHS trusts, 106 independent hospitals and six NHS trusts in Scotland and Wales.

Ninety per cent of patients rated their care as excellent or very good. Nearly the same proportion (88 per cent) said they had always been treated with respect and dignity while in hospital.

But only two-thirds of patients who had a mastectomy without reconstruction felt that they had received "the right amount of information" about breast reconstruction surgery. In some cases, this contributed to their decision not to have a reconstruction.

Recommendations from the audit include: a discussion with all patients about the option of breast reconstruction, as recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in 2009, and an investigation into ways to reduce the number of patients who suffer severe pain in the 24 hours after surgery. The current rates are six per cent of mastectomy patients and 18 per cent of patients who had immediate or delayed reconstruction.

Co-author Carmel Sheppard said: "With these audit findings, breast care nurses are now able to better inform women regarding the options available to them and to help address their on-going supportive needs. This will ultimately enhance the care they receive and lead to a speedier recovery."

* A new test was unveiled today to help identify women with a particular form of aggressive breast cancer.

Researchers say the test can spare women unnecessary radiotherapy by detecting those with aggressive cancer in the milk ducts - known as DCIS.

The findings are being published in the British Journal of Cancer.

Researcher Professor Sarah Pinder, of King's College, London, UK, said: "Screening is incredibly effective at identifying DCIS but we don't have a reliable system to identify which cancers are likely to be aggressive and need further treatment.

"We believe that our test will help identify a group of women who are at a much greater risk of the disease returning after surgery."

Pinder, SE et al. A new pathological system for grading DCIS with improved prediction of local recurrence: results from the UKCCCR/ANZ DCIS trial (2010)British Journal of Cancer July 2010

Tags: Cancer | UK News | Women’s Health & Gynaecology

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