Discussion of Treatment Options for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Effect of Provider Specialty on Type of Surgery and Satisfaction

Objectives. To describe the physicians with whom breast cancer patients discuss treatment options and assess whether discussing surgical options with a medical oncologist is associated with type of surgery and satisfaction. Research Design. Medical record abstraction and survey. Subjects. Women with early-stage breast cancer numbering 2,426 in two states-Massachusetts, where the rate of breast-conserving surgery is high, and Minnesota, where it is lower. Measures. Receipt of breast-conserving surgery and satisfaction. Results. Women in Massachusetts discussed breast cancer treatments with more physicians than women in Minnesota (mean 3.5 vs. 2.8; P