Chemoprevention acceptance and adherence in women with high‐risk breast lesions. Issue 2 (21st May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Roche, Constance A; Tang, Rong; Coopey, Suzanne B; Hughes, Kevin S
• Is Part Of: Breast journal. Volume 25:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 190
• Page End: 195
• Publication Date: 2018-05-21
• Subjects: breast cancer -- chemoprevention -- high‐risk breast lesions -- individualized education; Breast -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Breast -- Cancer -- Periodicals; 618.19
• DOI: 10.1111/tbj.13064
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1075-122X

Abstract

Abstract: Patients with atypical hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) (atypical breast lesions) are at high risk of developing breast cancer, and chemoprevention has been shown to confer a substantial reduction in that risk. Despite this, the overall rate of chemoprevention utilization in this group is low. This study evaluates the efficacy of a formal individualized education and counseling session on patient acceptance and adherence to chemoprevention. Patients with atypical breast lesions having an individualized education and counseling session in a single surgical oncology practice were prospectively entered into a database from 2001 to 2016, and with IRB approval, their data were analyzed. Chemoprevention recommendations, acceptance, duration of treatment, and side effects were recorded. A total of 536 patients were included in this study. Mean age at diagnosis was 52 years (range: 19‐86 years). Chemoprevention was recommended for 386 (72%) of whom 199 (52%) elected to take medication or participate in a chemoprevention clinical trial. At the time of this writing, 72 patients had completed therapy, 69 were still in treatment, and 58 had stopped chemoprevention prematurely. Approximately 55% of the women who accepted chemoprevention in this study will complete 5 years of therapy. A formal individualized education and counseling session can improve chemoprevention acceptance and achieve a reasonable completion rate, thus reducing cancer incidence in women with atypical breast lesions.