Determinants of mastectomy in breast conservation therapy candidates

Background Although underused, breast conservation therapy (BCT) is an accepted method for treatment of noninvasive and early breast cancer. The purpose of this analysis was to identify factors associated with receiving mastectomy when eligible for BCT. Methods From a recent experience, 397 patients at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center presented with clinical stage 0, I, or II breast cancer. Demographics and tumor characteristics of patients who underwent BCT versus mastectomy were compared. Results Of 293 BCT candidates, 203 patients (69%) underwent BCT and 90 patients (31%) received a mastectomy. Of those 90 patients, 66 patients (73%) had documented concerns about receiving BCT. Multivariate analyses showed that widow status was a factor associated with receiving mastectomy at presentation (P = .04). Conclusions The majority of BCT candidates with early stage breast cancer undergo BCT. In our study, widow status was a predictive factor of mastectomy in BCT candidates.