Area Deprivation Index and Rurality in Relation to Financial Toxicity among Breast Cancer Surgical Patients: Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study of Geospatial Differences in Risk Profiles.

BACKGROUND: Financial toxicity (FT) depicts the burden of cancer treatment costs and is associated with lower quality of life and survival in breast cancer patients. We examined the relationship between geospatial location, represented by rurality and Area Deprivation Index (ADI), and risk of FT. STUDY DESIGN: A single-institution, cross-sectional study was performed on adult female surgical breast cancer patients using survey data retrospectively collected between January 2018 and June 2019. Chart reviews were used to obtain patient information, and FT was identified using the COmprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity questionnaire, which is a validated instrument. Patients' home addresses were used to determine rurality using the Rural Urban Continuum Codes and linked to national ADI score. ADI was analyzed in tertiles for univariate statistical analyses, and as a continuous variable to develop multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate the independent associations of geospatial location with FT. RESULTS: A total of 568 surgical breast cancer patients were included. Univariate analyses found significant differences across ADI tertiles with respect to race/ethnicity, marital status, insurance type, education, and rurality. In multivariable analysis, advanced cancer stage (odds ratio [OR] 2.26, 95% CI 1.15 to 4.44) and higher ADI (OR 1.012, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.02) were associated with worsening odds of FT. Increasing age (continuous) (OR 0.976, 95% CI 0.96 to 0.99), married status (vs unmarried) (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.70), and receipt of bilateral mastectomy (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.96) were protective of FT. CONCLUSIONS: FT was significantly associated with areas of greater socioeconomic deprivation as measured by the ADI. However, in adjusted analyses, rurality was not significantly associated with FT. ADI can be useful for preoperative screening of at-risk populations and the targeted deployment of community-based interventions to alleviate FT.

Reduction and Mastopexy Techniques for Optimal Results in Oncoplastic Breast Reconstruction.

Breast conservation therapy has emerged as an important option for select cancer patients as survival rates are similar to those after mastectomy. Large tumor size and the effect of radiation create cosmetic deformities in the shape of the breast after lumpectomy alone. Volume loss, nipple displacement, and asymmetry of the contralateral breast are just a few concerns. Reconstruction of lumpectomy defects with local tissue rearrangement in concert with reduction and mastopexy techniques have allowed for outstanding aesthetic results. In patients who have a reasonable tumor- to breast-size ratio, this oncoplastic surgery can successfully treat the patient's cancer while often improving upon preoperative breast shape. Specific surgical guidelines in reduction and mastopexy help achieve predictable aesthetic results, despite the effects of radiation, and can allow for a single surgical procedure for cancer removal, reconstruction, and contralateral symmetry in one stage.