Factors leading to the late diagnosis and poor outcomes of breast cancer in Matabeleland South and the Bulawayo Metropolitan Provinces in Zimbabwe.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of female cancer deaths in Africa, and in Zimbabwe, >80% present with advanced disease. A Needs Project (NP) was carried out to determine the key factors responsible for delayed diagnosis and poor BC outcomes and to investigate possible solutions in 6 rural and urban districts of Matabeleland South and Bulawayo Metropolitan Provinces. METHODS: A mixed method approach was used to collect data in 2 phases. Phase 1: an exploration of key factors leading to poor BC outcomes with >50 professional stakeholders and patient representatives. Phase 2: (i) Quantitative arm; validated questionnaires recording breast cancer knowledge, demographic information and perceived barriers to care administered to women and their relatives (Group 1) and health professionals (HPs) (Group 2). (ii) Qualitative arm; 10 focus group discussions with medical specialists and interested lay representatives (Group 3). The Cochran sample size formulae technique was used to determine the quantitative sample size and data was aggregated and analysed using SPSS Version 23™. Purposive sampling for the qualitative study selected participants with an understanding of BC and the NP. Focus group discussions were recorded and a thematic analysis of the transcriptions was conducted using NVivo9™. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis of Group 1 data (n = 1107) confirmed that younger women (<30years) had the least knowledge of breast cancer (p<0.001). Just under half of all those surveyed regarded breast cancer as incurable. In Group 2 (n = 298) the largest group of health workers represented were general nurses and midwives (74.2%) in keeping with the structure of health provision in Zimbabwe. Analysis confirmed a strong association between age and awareness of BC incidence (p = 0.002) with respondents aged 30-39 years being both the largest group represented and the least knowledgeable, independent of speciality. Nearly all respondents (90%) supported decentralisation of appropriate breast surgical services to provincial and district hospitals backed up by specialist training. Thematic analysis of focus group discussions (Group 3) identified the following as important contributors to late BC diagnosis and poor outcomes: (i) presentation is delayed by poorly educated women and their families who fear BC and high treatment costs (ii) referral is delayed by health professionals with no access to training, skills or diagnostic equipment (iii), treatment is delayed by a disorganised, over-centralized patient pathway, and a lack of specialist care and inter-disciplinary communication. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the reasons for poor BC outcomes in Zimbabwe are complex and multi-factorial. All stakeholders support better user and provider education, diagnostic service reconfiguration, targeted funding, and specialist training.

Extreme oncoplastic conservation is a safe new alternative to mastectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Extreme oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (eOPBCS) allows breast conservation for tumours ≥ 50 mm, but long-term outcomes are unclear. We investigated early complications and the longer-term clinical and oncological outcomes following eOPBCS to assess the clinical utility and safety of this technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospectively collected database of all eOPBCS procedures (1993-2016) using LD miniflaps (LDm) and therapeutic mammoplasties (TM) was interrogated and cross-checked with hospital records to establish length of follow up (FU), clinical outcomes (complications, revisions), local recurrence (LR) and survival. RESULTS: Ninety eOPBCS procedures (62 LDm, 28 TM) performed for large tumours (mean 67 [50-177] mm) were identified, overall FU 80 (10-308) months (LDm 91 [13-308], TM 54 [10-120] months). Forty two per cent were node positive, and 2 were benign (benign cases excluded from LR and FU analysis). Eleven patients required surgery for involved excision margins (LDm 3 re-excisions and 2 mastectomies, TM 6 mastectomies). Surgery for complications and subsequent revision was required in 6% and 37% of LDm and 18% and 7% of TM patients, respectively. Seven patients developed LR (LDm 5 versus TM 2) giving a predicted 5 and 10 year LR rate of 1.1% and 16%. CONCLUSION: Long-term FU of this unique series has confirmed that eOPBCS is a safe procedure for patients with bulky tumours normally treated by mastectomy, without risking local control. TM patients experienced more early complications but LDm patients required more revisions over a more prolonged period of FU.

Objective assessment of clinical, oncological and cosmetic outcomes following volume replacement in patients undergoing oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery: protocol for a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Oncoplastic breast surgery allows the excision of larger tumours without compromising cosmetic outcome and can be broadly divided into volume displacement and volume replacement techniques. Although oncoplastic surgery has rapidly gained acceptance and is now widely practised, evidence is still lacking especially in patients who underwent volume replacement techniques. As it is a relatively new technique that has been described in the literature in the recent years, a summary of evidence from this literature can help clinicians to understand the clinical, oncologicalandcosmetic outcomes of such procedures. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: All original studies including randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies and case series involving more than 10 women undergoing partial breast reconstruction using a volume replacement technique will be included. The primary objective is to evaluate the clinical, oncological and cosmetic outcomes following volume replacement in patients undergoing oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery. The secondary objective is to review the patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) associated with oncoplastic breast surgery to help identify any unmet needs and to consider refining the existing PROMs to suit women undergoing volume replacement surgery.A comprehensive literature search, eligibility assessment and extraction of data will be conducted by two trained teams acting independently. Data will be extracted and stored in a database with standardised extraction fields to facilitate easy and consistent data entry. Heterogeneity will be assessed using the Cochrane tests. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This systematic review requires no ethical approval. It will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it will also be presented at nationalandinternational conferences. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42017075700; Pre-results.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Are Better after Oncoplastic Breast Conservation than after Mastectomy and Autologous Reconstruction.

Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (OBCS) avoids mastectomy for larger tumors, but patient-reported outcomes are unknown. METHODS: The BREAST-Q questionnaire was distributed to 333 women following therapeutic mammaplasty or latissimus dorsi (LD) miniflap since 1991 [tumor diameter, 32.5 (5-100) mm). QScore software generated scores/100 for breast appearance, physical, emotional, and sexual wellbeing. Outcomes following therapeutic mammaplasty and LD miniflap were compared and qualitative data analyzed to identify common themes relating to satisfaction. RESULTS: One hundred fifty (45%) women responded [mammaplasty versus LD miniflap, 52% versus 42%; age, 52 (30-83) years; follow-up, 84 (4-281) months). Eighty-nine percent rated OBCS better than mastectomy, > 80% recommending it to others. Mean outcome scores for breast appearance, physical, and emotional wellbeing were high and persisted beyond 15 years. Therapeutic mammaplasty patients were significantly more satisfied than those undergoing LD miniflap with the shape (P < 0.05), the size (P < 0.005), and the natural feel of the treated breast (P = 0.01). They demonstrated similar scores for physical and emotional wellbeing and a lower score for sexual wellbeing than LD miniflap patients. More LD miniflap patients reported back/shoulder symptoms and were more likely to report upper back pain (P < 0.05), but very few (< 5%) were concerned about donor-site appearance. Overall satisfaction with surgical outcomes was high in both OBCS groups (82% "excellent/very good") but greatest after therapeutic mammaplasty (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Patients report long-lasting satisfaction after OBCS and outcomes that compare very favorably with those reported following mastectomy and immediate autologous reconstruction.

The Effect of the Timing of Radiotherapy on Clinical and Patient-Reported Outcomes After Latissimus Dorsi Breast Reconstruction: A 10-Year Study.

BACKGROUND: Breast reconstruction (BR) is considered to be adversely affected by radiotherapy (RT), particularly when an implant is used. The aim of this study was to compare clinical and patient-reported outcomes after expander-assisted latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction depending on the timing of RT. METHODS: Patients undergoing BR over a 10-year period (follow-up mean, 56 [14-134] months) were divided into 3 groups. Group 1, RT after mastectomy and BR, Group 2, RT before mastectomy and BR, and Group 3, RT after mastectomy but before BR. The primary endpoints were early and late surgical interventions. Validated questionnaires were circulated to all study patients and matched controls. RESULTS: Three hundred thirteen patients underwent 389 BRs. One hundred eighteen patients received RT, of which 65 had undergone expander-assisted latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction. Both use and timing of RT influenced clinical outcomes. Overall, use of RT resulted in a 3-fold increase in complications (P = 0.003). Postreconstruction RT resulted in more than double the number of complications compared with prereconstruction RT (P = 0.008) and delaying BR until after mastectomy and RT reduced complications to levels observed in control patients (P = nonsignificant). Complications were halved in patients undergoing autologous LD reconstruction (P = 0.0001). Patient-reported outcomes were similar for emotional well-being, satisfaction, and shoulder symptoms, although a nonsignificant increase in chronic breast symptoms was reported by the RT group. CONCLUSION: The timing and type of LD reconstruction chosen by patients receiving RT has a significant impact on the risk of subsequent complications and unplanned interventions but has little impact on longer term patient well-being or satisfaction.

Development of a food compositional database for the estimation of dietary intake of phyto-oestrogens in a group of postmenopausal women previously treated for breast cancer and validation with urinary excretion.

The scientific literature contains evidence suggesting that women who have been treated for breast cancer may, as a result of their diagnosis, increase their phyto-oestrogen (PE) intake. In the present paper, we describe the creation of a dietary analysis database (based on Dietplan6) for the determination of dietary intakes of specific PE (daidzein, genistein, glycitein, formononetin, biochanin A, coumestrol, matairesinol and secoisolariciresinol), in a group of women previously diagnosed and treated for postmenopausal breast cancer. The design of the database, data evaluation criteria, literature data entry for 551 foods and primary analysis by LC­MS/MS of an additional thirty-four foods for which there were no published data are described. The dietary intake of 316 women previously treated for postmenopausal breast cancer informed the identification of potential food and beverage sources of PE and the bespoke dietary analysis database was created to, ultimately, quantify their PE intake. In order that PE exposure could be comprehensively described, fifty-four of the 316 subjects completed a 24 h urine collection, and their urinary excretion results allowed for the description of exposure to include those identified as 'equol producers'.

Immediate latissimus dorsi miniflap volume replacement for partial mastectomy: use of intra-operative frozen sections to confirm negative margins.

BACKGROUND: Latissimus dorsi (LD) miniflap volume replacement is used for immediate reconstruction after partial mastectomy. This prospectively collected series was analyzed to evaluate the accuracy of intraoperative frozen sections. METHODS: After partial mastectomy, "bed biopsies" were submitted for intraoperative frozen-section analysis. If disease free, volume replacement was undertaken; if involved, targeted re-excisions were taken. Demographic, pathological, and outcome data were recorded. The proportion of breast excised was calculated. Local recurrences were recorded. RESULTS: One hundred ten partial mastectomies with LD miniflap volume replacement were completed. The median proportion of breast excised was 28% (maximum 72%); median weight 207 g. Frozen sections were positive in 33% of patients with a sensitivity of 83% and accuracy of 96% when compared with paraffin sections. Local recurrence occurred in one case. The median follow-up was 41.4 months. CONCLUSIONS: LD miniflap volume replacement extends the role of breast-conserving surgery. Frozen-section analysis of bed biopsies facilitates a single-stage procedure.

An oncoplastic technique to reduce the formation of lateral 'dog-ears' after mastectomy.

BACKGROUND: Lateral skin folds or 'dog-ears' are frequent following mastectomy, particularly in patients with large body habitus. METHODS: We describe a method of modifying the mastectomy incision and suturing to eliminate these lateral 'dog-ears'. CONCLUSION: This surgical technique, as compared to others described in the literature, is simple, does not require additional incisions and is cosmetically acceptable to the patient.

Surgery insight: Oncoplastic breast-conserving reconstruction--indications, benefits, choices and outcomes.

Until recently, the surgical management of breast cancer has centered around two main options--either tumor resection by carrying out breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy with or without reconstruction. Lately, techniques that combine the skills of resection with those of reconstruction in one procedure are leading to the emergence of a third approach--oncoplastic breast-conserving reconstruction. This approach involves reconstruction of resection defects either by volume replacement or by volume displacement. Both techniques are adaptations of conventional methods of breast reconstruction or breast reduction. Emerging data on the oncological and cosmetic outcomes of oncoplastic breast-conserving reconstruction are confirming the clinical utility of this new approach to the surgical management of patients with breast cancer.

Training and skills for breast surgeons in the new millennium.

Breast surgeons are learning to adapt to an evidence-based, guideline-directed and outcome-orientated culture as key members of the multidisciplinary team. Recent data has confirmed the central role of surgery in preventing recurrence, improving survival and reducing risk, and rising scrutiny is raising the standards of breast cancer treatment. Specialization is increasing in breast surgery as a result of foreshortened training, greater patient demand and increasing trainee expectations and breast surgeons are learning new skills. The balance of the breast surgeon's skill-base reflects personal preferences and professional networks, local needs and geographical -constraints, and current developments in advanced surgical training curricula. Modern training programmes need to recognize these needs, supporting interprofessional cross-specialty training initiatives and encouraging professional development. Trainees and -trainers will need to acquire new skills in diagnostic, targeted, oncoplastic and prophylactic procedures through a variety of new training initiatives. Breast surgery is standing on the threshold of change, and breast surgeons must develop new strategies, new skills and new alliances to strengthen their role in this expanding specialty.

The psychological effect of mastectomy with or without breast reconstruction: a prospective, multicenter study.

A multicenter, prospective study ( = 103) examined the psychological implications of women's decisions for or against breast reconstruction. Recognized measures of anxiety, depression, body image, and quality of life were completed before the operation, and 6 and 12 months later. A reduction in psychological distress over the year following the operation was evident in each surgical group (mastectomy alone or immediate or delayed reconstruction), indicating that reconstructive surgery can offer psychological benefits to some women; however, others report improved psychological functioning without this surgical procedure. In contrast to existing retrospective research, the prospective design enabled the process of adjustment during the first year after the operation to be examined. The results indicate that breast reconstruction is not a universal panacea for the emotional and psychological consequences of mastectomy. Women still reported feeling conscious of altered body image 1 year postoperatively, regardless of whether or not they had elected breast reconstruction. Health professionals should be careful of assuming that breast reconstruction necessarily confers psychological benefits compared with mastectomy alone.