The effect of nurse navigation on timeliness of breast cancer care at an academic comprehensive cancer center.

Background: A patient navigation process is required for accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). Patient navigation has previously been shown to improve timely diagnosis in patients with breast cancer. This study sought to assess the effect of nurse navigation on timeliness of care following the diagnosis of breast cancer by comparing patients who were treated in a comprehensive cancer center with and without the assistance of nurse navigation.

Locoregional recurrence after mastectomy with immediate transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap reconstruction.

Background: The locoregional recurrence (LRR) rate after mastectomy is reported to be similar with immediate reconstruction. We aimed to identify characteristics of LRR after transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) reconstruction.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing immediate TRAM reconstruction for breast cancer who were diagnosed with LRR.

Breath analysis by mass spectrometry: a new tool for breast cancer detection?

Breath analysis has received attention as a noninvasive diagnostic tool with increasing research into its potential usefulness. We are investigating the utility of the analysis of breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as an effective modality for breast cancer (BC) detection and monitoring by collecting breath samples with a simple portable device to determine whether BC patients have breath VOCs distinct from those in healthy volunteers. We prospectively enrolled 20 healthy volunteers and 20 newly diagnosed stage II-IV BC patients.

Improving on national quality indicators of breast cancer care in a large public hospital as a means to decrease disparities for African American women.

Background: In April 2007, the National Quality Forum (NQF) endorsed the first nationally recognized hospital-based performance measures for stage I, II, and III breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to document compliance with the 3 NQF breast quality indicators during 2 time intervals in a metropolitan public hospital.

Materials And Methods: Tumor registry and medical records were used to identify patient demographics and treatments before (2005-2006) and after (2008) implementations in 2007 as a result of the NQF audit.