Increasing incidence of bilateral mastectomies: the patient perspective.

Background: Numerous studies have reported increasing rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomies (CPMs). Understanding patient rationale for the surgical choice may provide insight into this trend.

Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to 350 mastectomy patients identified from a community health system tumor registry.

Alternative therapy used as primary treatment for breast cancer negatively impacts outcomes.

Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has escalated over the past decade, despite the fact that clinical studies validating the efficacy of CAM remain sparse. Clinicians frequently encounter patients who reject standard treatment, but data on outcomes of patients choosing CAM as primary treatment for breast cancer are also lacking.

Materials And Methods: Breast cancer patients who refused/delayed standard treatments in favor of alternative therapies were identified in a community surgical practice over a 10-year period.

Side effects of aromatase inhibitors versus tamoxifen: the patients' perspective.

Background: Hormonal therapy is a mainstay in the management of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. Tamoxifen (TAM) has been the drug widely used until the recent emergence of the aromatase inhibitors (AIs). Although AIs appear to be better tolerated than tamoxifen, they do have a different safety profile and these side effects have not been well characterized in community practice.