In this study, the factors affecting the choice of treatment were investigated in patients diagnosed with breast cancer who were treated with breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy.
METHODS
Factors that may be effective in surgical choice were aimed to be determined by retrospectively examining
patient files regarding age, pathological type, diameter and lateralization of the tumor, number of
lymph nodes in the axilla, estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER and PR), c-erbB-2 status, the place of
residence, center of operation and distribution of patients according to years. The relationships among
the data in this study were examined using statistical methods.
RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 52.06±11.91 (age range: 28?86). Tumor lateralization was the right side
in 44.4% of the patients and the left side in 55.6% of the patients. There were significantly more modified
radical mastectomy (MRM) surgeries in the cases with left-sided lateralization and more breastconserving
surgeries (BCS) in the patients with right-sided lateralization (p=0.001). Significantly more
BCSs were found to be performed when the tumor diameter was less than 2.5 cm, and more MRMs
were performed as the nodal stage increased (p=0.000, p<0.001). The patients with positive PR receptors
were treated with BCS significantly more frequently (p=0.005). The presence of radiotherapy facilities
increased the frequency of BCSs, and the MRM rates were higher in the patients living in rural areas.
CONCLUSION
We found that the patients with good prognostic characteristics known for breast cancer were more
frequently treated with BCSs, whereas the patients with poor prognostic characteristics were more frequently
treated with MRMs. We also found that being younger, living in a city, having right-sided lateralization
and radiotherapy facilities increased the choice of BCS.