Abstract Background: Young women with breast cancer (BC) often receive aggressive local therapy and are more likely to undergo (bilateral) mastectomy and receive postmastectomy radiation (RT) than older women. Our previous work suggested better quality of life (QOL) outcomes among women undergoing breast conserving therapy (BCT) vs. mastectomy, even with reconstruction (recon), although limited data was available regarding recon. In the current analysis, we sought to understand the impact of recon, accounting for RT, on long-term satisfaction and QOL. Methods: Between 10/2016-11/2017, we administered the BREAST-Q, a validated patient-reported outcomes measure designed to evaluate satisfaction and QOL after breast cancer surgery and recon, to 743 women in the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Study, a multi-site prospective cohort that enrolled women diagnosed (dx’d) at age < 40 from 2006-2016. Demographic and treatment information was obtained by surveys and chart review. Recon was defined as autologous, implant or complex (combination of autologous and implant). Mean BREAST-Q scores for each domain (breast satisfaction, physical, psychosocial, and sexual) were compared by recon types and stratified by receipt of RT; higher BREAST-Q scores (range: 0-100) indicate better QOL. Linear regression was used to identify predictors of BREAST-Q scores. Results: 584 women with Stage 0-3 BC completed the Breast-Q at a median of 5.7 [range 2-10] years from dx), 357 (61%) had mastectomy and recon and were included in the analytic sample. Median age at dx was 36 years; 85% had stage 0, 1 or 2 disease; 41% received RT and 76% underwent bilateral mastectomy. 90.5% underwent immediate recon; of which 65.5% were tissue expander placement. Definitive recon included autologous tissue in 16%; implants in 81% and complex recon in 3%. Mean BREAST-Q breast satisfaction, psychosocial, and physical well-being scores differed based on recon type accounting for RT (Table 1). Significantly lower scores for breast satisfaction were seen in women having implant +RT. Scores were not impacted by bilateral procedure, timing of recon, use of tissue expander, extent of axillary surgery, cancer stage or other treatment factors. In multivariate analyses, receipt of RT, lymphedema and implant-based recon were associated with lower breast satisfaction scores. Physical well-being scores were lower for those with complex recon, for non-White women, for women who reported being financially uncomfortable, for those with lymphedema, and for those <5 years from surgery. Psychosocial well-being scores were lower for women who received RT, had BMI >25, and for those who reported being financially uncomfortable. Sexual well-being scores were lower for women with a BMI >25 and for those who reported being financially uncomfortable. Conclusion Type of recon and receipt of radiation among young survivors who undergo mastectomy and recon for early breast cancer appears to have a differential impact on satisfaction and QOL. Our finding of lower breast satisfaction among young women who received RT, particularly after implant recon, underscores the importance of counseling regarding surgical options, especially for women who may receive RT after mastectomy and who are candidates for BCT. Table 1. Unadjusted BREAST-Q scores stratified by RTBREAST-Q DomainAutologous -RT N=29Autologous +RT N=27Implant -RT N=174Implant +RT N=113Complex N=13Global p-valueSatisfaction with Breasts, mean (sd)67 (19)63 (18)64 (18)53 (18)58 (22)<0.01Physical well-being, mean (sd)81 (13)80 (14)80 (15)77 (14)67 (18)0.01Psychosocial well-being, mean (sd)71 (18)64 (18)72 (20)66 (23)62 (20)0.03Sexual well-being, mean (sd)54 (21)50 (24)52 (20)47 (22)48 (27)0.26RT= radiation Citation Format: Laura Dominici, Jiani Hu, Hee Jeong Kim, Tari King, Kathryn Ruddy, Rulla Tamimi, Jeffrey Peppercorn, Lidia Schapira, Virginia Borges, Stephen Come, Ellen Warner, Julia Wong, Ann Partridge, Shoshana Rosenberg. BREAST-Q satisfaction and quality of life outcomes in young women undergoing mastectomy and reconstruction for breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD6-1.
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