Patient-Reported Outcome Measures may optimize shared decision-making for cancer risk management in BRCA mutation carriers.

van Egdom LSE1, de Kock MA1, Apon I2, Mureau MAM3, Verhoef C1, Hazelzet JA2, Koppert LB4.

Author information

1: Department of Surgical Oncology, RG-228, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
2: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
3: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
4: Department of Surgical Oncology, RG-228, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. l.koppert@erasmusmc.nl.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study was to compare patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, either after bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM) or during breast surveillance, to improve shared decision-making in their cancer risk management.

METHODS:

Unaffected BRCA1/2 mutation carriers at least one year after BPM followed by immediate breast reconstruction (BPM-IBR) or one year under surveillance were eligible. After informed consent, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and BREAST-Q were administered and compared between the different strategies. PROs were also compared to available normative data.

RESULTS:

Ninety-six participants were analyzed in this study and showed significant differences between strategies in age, age at genetic testing, and time since BPM or starting breast surveillance. All HADS scores were below 8 suggesting no signs of anxiety or depression in both groups. Higher mean 'Q-physical well-being' scores were reported by the surveillance group (81.78 [CI 76.99-86.57]) than the BPM group (76.96 [CI 73.16 - 80.75]; p = 0.011). Overall, for both questionnaires better scores were seen when compared to age-matched normative data.

CONCLUSIONS:

No signs of anxiety or depression were seen in the surveillance or BPM-IBR group. Slightly better mean BREAST-Q scores were seen for the surveillance group in comparison to BPM-IBR, except for 'Q-psychological well-being'. The difference in 'Q-physical well-being' was significantly worse for BPM-IBR. Approaches to obtain longitudinal PROs and reference values should be explored in the future, which could add value to shared decision-making in regards to breast cancer risk management in this specific patient population.