Effects of High Anxiety Scores on Surgical and Overall Treatment Plan in Patients with Breast Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Therapy.

CONCLUSION: Patients with high anxiety at initial consultation were nine times more likely to undergo aggressive surgery compared with patients with low anxiety. These findings underscore the need for early identification of patients who may benefit from tailored supportive and educational services to address sources of anxiety and knowledge gaps. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The prevalence of anxiety among women with newly diagnosed breast cancer is being increasingly acknowledged. However, health care providers have not fully appreciated the impact of anxiety on the surgical management of patients with early-stage breast cancer. This study highlights the importance of self-reported anxiety on surgical management. The preoperative period provides a unique window of opportunity to address sources of anxiety and provide targeted educational materials over a period of 4-6 months, which may ultimately lead to less aggressive surgery when it is not needed. PMID: 31615949 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: The Oncologist - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Oncologist Source Type: research