Out-of-Pocket Cost Modeling of Adjuvant Antiestrogen and Radiation Therapy After Lumpectomy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer Across Medicaid and Medicare Plans.

Purpose: The optimal adjuvant therapy (antiestrogen therapy [ET] + radiation therapy or ET alone, or in some reports radiation therapy alone) in older women with early-stage breast cancer has been highly debated. However, granular details on the role of insurance in the out-of-pocket cost for patients receiving ET with or without radiation therapy are lacking. This project disaggregates out-of-pocket costs by insurance plans to increase treatment cost transparency.

Prospective Study of Pain Outcomes Associated With Breast Surgery in Women With Nonhereditary Breast Cancer.

Objective: To assess pain severity and interference with life in women after different types of breast cancer surgery and the demographic, treatment-related, and psychosocial variables associated with these pain outcomes.

Summary Of Background Data: Data are conflicting regarding pain outcomes and quality of life (QOL) among women who undergo different types of breast surgery.

Methods: Women with nonhereditary breast cancer completed the brief pain inventory before surgery and at 1, 6, 12, and 18 months postsurgery.