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Effect of rurality and travel distance on contralateral prophylactic mastectomy for unilateral breast cancer
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Effect of rurality and travel distance on contralateral prophylactic mastectomy for unilateral breast cancer

Madison M. Wahlen, Ingrid M. Lizarraga, Amanda R. Kahl, Whitney E. Zahnd, Jan M. Eberth, Linda Overholser, Natoshia Askelson, Rachel Hirschey, Katherine Yeager, Sarah Nash, …
Cancer causes & control, v 34(Suppl 1), pp 171-186
01 Dec 2023
PMID: 37095280
url
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-023-01689-9View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Biomedical and Life Sciences Biomedicine Cancer Research Epidemiology General Hematology Oncology Original Paper Public Health
Purpose Despite lack of survival benefit, demand for contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) to treat unilateral breast cancer remains high. High uptake of CPM has been demonstrated in Midwestern rural women. Greater travel distance for surgical treatment is associated with CPM. Our objective was to examine the relationship between rurality and travel distance to surgery with CPM. Methods Women diagnosed with stages I–III unilateral breast cancer between 2007 and 2017 were identified using the National Cancer Database. Logistic regression was used to model likelihood of CPM based on rurality, proximity to metropolitan centers, and travel distance. A multinomial logistic regression model compared factors associated with CPM with reconstruction versus other surgical options. Results Both rurality (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06–1.15 for non-metro/rural vs. metro) and travel distance (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.33–1.41 for those who traveled 50 + miles vs. < 30 miles) were independently associated with CPM. For women who traveled 30 + miles, odds of receiving CPM were highest for non-metro/rural women (OR 1.33 for 30–49 miles, OR 1.57 for 50 + miles; reference: metro women traveling < 30 miles). Non-metro/rural women who received reconstruction were more likely to undergo CPM regardless of travel distance (ORs 1.11–1.21). Both metro and metro-adjacent women who received reconstruction were more likely to undergo CPM only if they traveled 30 + miles (ORs 1.24–1.30). Conclusion The impact of travel distance on likelihood of CPM varies by patient rurality and receipt of reconstruction. Further research is needed to understand how patient residence, travel burden, and geographic access to comprehensive cancer care services, including reconstruction, influence patient decisions regarding surgery.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Oncology
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
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