Implications of Demographics and Socioeconomic Factors in Breast Cancer Reconstruction

Background Not all women undergo breast reconstruction despite its vital role in the recovery process. Previous studies have reported that women who are ethnically diverse and of lower socioeconomic status are less likely to undergo breast reconstruction, but the reasons remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the demographic characteristics of our patient population and their primary reason for not undergoing breast reconstruction. Methods An institutional review board-approved, single-institution study was designed to evaluate all female breast cancer patients of all stages who underwent mastectomy but did not undergo breast reconstruction from 2008 to 2014. Patients were contacted via telephone and asked to participate in a validated, prompted survey. Data regarding their demographic information and primary reason for not undergoing breast reconstruction were collected. Results Inclusion criteria were met by 181 patients, of which 61% participated in the survey. Overall, the most common reason for not undergoing breast reconstruction (26%) was unwillingness to undergo further procedures. However, the most common reason for patients that identified as Hispanic, Spanish-speaking, high school graduates, or having an annual income less than US $25,000 (P
Source: Annals of Plastic Surgery - Category: Cosmetic Surgery Tags: Breast Surgery Source Type: research