OVERVIEW OF PATIENT PREFERENCES IN THE SURGICAL MANAGEMENT PLAN OF EARLY BREAST CANCERS

Objective: To determine patient preferences in the surgical options of early breast cancers and surgeon’s role in the decisionmaking. Study Design: cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Breast Surgery Department, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Nov 2020 to May 2021. Methodology: Patients having early carcinoma breast were studied, i.e., clinical stage 1 or 2, and their surgical preference was recorded. The cases were discussed in multidisciplinary meetings, and a discussion session with patient conducted and then final decision taken from the patient was recorded again, and the results compared. Results: A total of 28 patients were included in this study and their surgical preferences recorded. Of these patients 22 (78.5%) agreed to breast conservation initially, whereas one of the patients wanted mastectomy. Five (17.8%) patients were undecided between the two. After multidisciplinary team recommendation and discussion with surgeon, only one patient opted for mastectomy (3.6%). Conclusion: Patients with early breast cancer when offered a surgical decision between breast conservation and mastectomy mostly opt for breast conservation; those who select mastectomy do so because of the fear of recurrence.