A breast unit is a multidisciplinary center specialized in the management of women with breast diseases, including breast cancer (BC). It represents a care path, passing from screening activities to diagnostic investigations, from surgery to the definition of the therapeutic strategy, from psychophysical rehabilitation to long-term checks (follow-up), and up to genetic counseling. Since 2006, following a resolution issued by the European Parliament to urge member states to activate multidisciplinary breast centers by 2016, work has been underway throughout Italy to improve the management of women with BC. In Italy, the State-Regions agreement was signed on 18 December 2014, sanctioning the establishment of breast units. These centers must adhere to specific quality criteria and requirements. In 2020, the experts of the EUSOMA group (European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists), in their latest document published, expanded the requirements of the breast units. Furthermore, Senonetwork was founded in 2012 with the aim of allowing BC to be treated in breast units that comply with European requirements to ensure equal treatment opportunities for all Italian women. Indeed, the available data indicate that the BC patient has a greater chance of better treatment in the breast units with a multidisciplinary team, thus increasing the survival rate with a better quality of life, compared to those managed in nonspecialized structures. The present review is a perspective on the current Italian reality of breast units, updated with the available literature and the most recent epidemiological data from Senonetwork and AgeNaS.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/CEJ.0000000000000853DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

breast units
24
breast
11
management women
8
breast cancer
8
units
6
multicenter experience
4
multidisciplinary
4
experience multidisciplinary
4
multidisciplinary italian
4
italian breast
4

Similar Publications

Differences between neonatal units with high and low rates of breast milk feeding for very preterm babies at discharge: a qualitative study of staff experiences.

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

December 2024

NIHR Policy Research Unit in Maternal and Neonatal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Public Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK.

Background: Breast milk has significant benefits for preterm babies, but 'very preterm' babies are unable to feed directly from the breast at birth. Their mothers have to initiate and sustain lactation through expressing milk for tube feeding until their babies are developmentally ready to feed orally. There are wide disparities between neonatal units in England in rates of breast milk feeding at discharge.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Clinical and patient-reported outcomes in women offered oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery as an alternative to mastectomy: ANTHEM multicentre prospective cohort study.

Br J Surg

December 2024

Bristol Surgical and Perioperative Care Complex Intervention Collaboration, Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Learning and Research Building, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.

Background: Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery may be a better option than mastectomy, but high-quality comparative evidence is lacking. The aim of the ANTHEM study (ISRCTN18238549) was to explore clinical and patient-reported outcomes in a multicentre cohort of women offered oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery as an alternative to mastectomy with or without immediate breast reconstruction.

Methods: Women with invasive/pre-invasive breast cancer who were offered oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery with volume replacement or displacement techniques to avoid mastectomy were recruited prospectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The "Pfizer Boob Job": A Case of Unexplained Gigantomastia.

Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open

December 2024

From the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

True parenchymal breast changes following COVID-19 vaccination are exceedingly rare. Equally rare are incidences of pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH)-associated gigantomastia. The patient in this case report presented with both occurrences and experienced massive breast enlargement 1 week postadministration of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which worsened after her second dose.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Programmed death protein-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors demonstrate significant antitumor efficacy by modulating T-cell activity and inhibiting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, thus enhancing immune responses. Despite their robust effects, systemic administration of these inhibitors is linked to severe immune toxicity. To address this issue, we engineered a strain, REP, which releases PD-L1 nanoantibodies (PD-L1nb) to treat breast cancer and attenuate immunotherapy-related side effects.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Elevated mortality risks associated with late diagnosis of cancer in individuals with psychiatric disorders?

J Psychiatr Res

December 2024

Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Clinic, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano-Isontina - ASUGI, Trieste, Italy.

Introduction: Considering the elevated cancer mortality in individuals with psychiatric conditions, possibly associated with late diagnosis, this study investigated cancer screening participation rates among patients under the care of four Trieste community mental health centers (CMHCs).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 1252 individuals with psychiatric disorders, retrieving their electronic health records up to December 2019. The study assessed participation rates in breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening programs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!