Grant: Project Grant - Priority Announcement - Breast Cancer Survivorship

Several trials have established breast conserving surgery (BCS) followed by radiation has equivalent or improved survival to mastectomy for early breast cancer, yet mastectomy rates are rising globally. It is thought patients perceive mastectomy to improve survival and reduce worry of cancer recurrence, however recent advances in patient-centered care have measured patient reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes among breast cancer patients, and early studies report higher HRQoL among BCS patients. BCS rates in British Columbia are below the national average. Further clinical and HRQoL data are needed to understand factors influencing the BC mastectomy rate and inform clinical recommendations for surgical treatment of breast cancer. This study will be based on a cohort of breast cancer surgery patients recruited from Mount Saint Joseph Hospital Providence Breast Centre. Patients will be classified into BCS, mastectomy by patient preference, and mastectomy deemed medically necessary. Analysis will compare postoperative complications, oncologic, patient reported psychosocial and HRQoL outcomes at several time points following surgery. By linking oncologic and HRQoL outcomes, this study will provide novel information to facilitate more informed preoperative surgical counselling and guide institutional and provincial policy for development of breast cancer treatment pathway quality indicators.