Decisional preferences and satisfaction with short-course radiation for breast cancer.

Abstract

193 Background: Limited literature exists regarding preferences and decisional satisfaction for women who choose accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) in lieu of 6-7 weeks of radiation. This analysis provides long-term patient reported outcomes in women treated with APBI at one institution. Methods: Records of women treated primarily with balloon-based APBI (2005-2013) were reviewed after IRB approval. Women with recurrent disease or poor prognosis second primary cancer were excluded. Assessment of decisional factors important to the patient, as well as satisfaction and regret with treatment choices (Decisional Regret and Satisfaction Scales) were captured via mail or telephone. Results: In 141 women who met inclusion criteria, 83 participated. Median age at diagnosis was 62 years (SD = 9), and median time from RT to survey completion was 102 months (SD = 8). Histology was pre-invasive, (25%), invasive (52%), and combined invasive/pre-invasive (23%). The majority had estrogen/progesterone receptor positive disease. Factors that were important in decision making included convenience, physician recommendation, financial considerations, novelty of treatment, desire to avoid mastectomy, and recovery time. The majority (48%) reported convenience to be the single most important factor. Provider recommendation was the primary factor in decision making for 20% of women. Most women agreed that their choice was the right decision (96%) and most felt adequately informed (90%). The majority (92% and 90% respectively) of women agreed that their decision was consistent with their personal values and was the best decision for them personally. Decisional satisfaction was high (95%). Overall satisfaction with treatment choices was high: 84% and 10% reported being totally and somewhat satisfied respectively. The majority (90%) of women stated they would make the same treatment choice again. Conclusions: Decisional satisfaction remains high almost a decade after completion of short course radiation. Practitioners should consider patient values and preferences as part of shared decision making when determining type and duration of radiation as part of breast conservation therapy.