Patient Interest in Exploring Nonsurgical Treatment Approaches for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Advances in radiation therapy have enabled the ability to deliver ablative treatments, but there has been limited application of these treatments to early-stage breast cancers with a goal of omitting surgery. The purpose of this study was to explore patient interest in pursuing nonsurgical treatment approaches for their early-stage breast cancer.

Methods and materials

We conducted a qualitative study involving interviews with 21 patients with early-stage breast cancer who were eligible for participation in a phase 2 clinical trial offering omission of definitive surgery. Interviews were transcribed and an inductive, thematic analysis was performed by 3 independent reviewers to generate themes and subthemes.

Results

Data analysis revealed the following factors

SUBMITTER: Guhan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11601149 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature