“Women can’t make an informed decision if they don’t make all the choices,” Guthrie said.
It is important for patients to feel connected with their providers, said Susan Brown, senior director of health information and publications at Susan G. Komen. If someone feels like they might want to consider walking flat and aren’t getting help from their surgeons, it might be time for a second opinion, Brown said.
“One of the first things that caught my eye [about the study] was how important information is to patients before trying to make a decision or before they are about to make a decision, “Brown said.” The second is how important the doctor’s support is in acknowledging, understanding, and genuinely respecting a patient’s wishes.The provider or patient can be partners in the decision-making process as it appears that the patient is involved in the decision, who they ultimately met are happier. “
Mastectomies have increased over the past few years for a variety of reasons, Brown said. No rebuilding isn’t new, but it’s not always something that has been discussed so openly, she said.
Patients exploring their options can call the 1-877-Go-Komen hotline, she suggested.
“Patients really looking at this as an option and just wanting to bounce some ideas off someone and get support for what they’re thinking about, and for some assistance in getting that second opinion, they could certainly reach out to our Komen Breast cancer hotline for that kind of information, “Brown said.
The study was recently published online in the Annals of Surgical Oncology. Attai is now working with surgeons and patient advocates to develop a new survey tool.
“And then we have several directions ahead of us, one of which applies this to a wider patient population,” Attai said. “The other deals with our surgical training and ensures that our general surgeons and those who are completing a scholarship in breast surgical oncology are trained in a flat cap.”
More information
The American Cancer Society offers more alternatives to breast reconstruction.
SOURCES: Deanna Attai, Associate Clinical Professor, Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles; Susan Brown, MS, RN, Senior Director, Health Information and Publications, Susan G. Komen, Dallas; Catherine Guthrie, cancer survivor, Somerville, Mass .; Annals of Surgical Oncology, January 3, 2021, online
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