Patient-reported satisfaction with reconstructed breasts in the long-term survivorship period: Comparison of autologous and nonautologous breast reconstruction.
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9043 Background: Breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy may choose to have reconstruction performed using either their own tissue or an implant. As many patients are candidates for both, valid and reliable patient-centered outcomes data are crucial to shared medical decision-making. The objective of this study is to determine whether patient-reported satisfaction with their reconstructed breasts is dependent on type of reconstructive surgery and length of time from reconstruction. Methods: Participants were recruited from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer, NY and the University of British Columbia, Canada. Patients completed the BREAST-Q, a new patient-reported outcome measure for breast surgery patients. The dependent variable was the BREAST-Q Satisfaction with Breast score, a 16-item scale scored from 0-100. Procedure type, time since surgery, and patient characteristics were independent variables. Univariate analysis and clinical judgment were used to identify variables included in the model, and multivariate linear regression models were constructed to control for confounders. Results: The study sample consisted of 510 women (response rate 62%). The sample was on average aged 54.3 ± 9.3 (range 21-81), surveyed 3.71 years ± 1.55 (range 1-9) after surgery, 66% were reconstructed using an implant. Type of surgery and laterality were found to be variables that predicted higher patient satisfaction with their breasts after controlling for radiation therapy, follow-up time, timing of surgery, age, body mass index, and major complications (surgery type p<0.001; laterality p<0.001, R-square=0.17). Conclusions: As there is a growing population of breast cancer survivors, understanding how a woman’s satisfaction with her reconstructed breasts changes over time is essential. This study suggests that patient satisfaction with breast reconstruction depends on the type of reconstruction a woman undergoes. This patient-centered outcome data can be used to enhance shared medical decision-making by providing patients with information about realistic expectations for satisfaction with breasts related to type of surgery chosen.
