Type of publication:
Conference abstract
Author(s):
*Lake B., *Pearson L., *Wilkins H., *Rastall S.
Citation:
European Journal of Surgical Oncology, May 2014, vol./is. 40/5(624), 0748-7983 (May 2014)
Abstract:
Introduction: There is increasing obesity in the UK, affecting 26% of women. The highest rate is in the West Midlands. (HSCIC 2013) This growing obese population will significantly impact health care. Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment have a 62 day cancer target. (CRS 2007) Accepted practice is triple assessment which is affected by elevated BMI; more difficult examination, repeated biopsy, technically difficult and time consuming imaging. This can delay diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Method: Somerset Cancer Database was used to identify all patients diagnosed with non-invasive or invasive Breast Cancer from 1st April 2012 – 31st March 2013 at Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Trust. Patients having hormone treatment or radiotherapy alone were excluded. Patient demographics were obtained from Pre-operative Anaesthetic Database. Biopsy rate was obtained from review. Imaging was reviewed by Breast Radiographer. SPSS was used to calculate independent T-test for statistical analysis. Results: 505 patients were diagnosed, of these 352 had surgery. Mean age 60 (30-87), mean BMI 28.6(16.5-55), with 35% of patients classified as obese. Number of days to treatment of BMI 35, 36 to 42 days was statistically significant P>0.0438 (T=2.0348, SE 2.949). Time taken for mammogram for super-obese patient BMI compared to normal BMI was significantly longer 7.5 minutes to 3.4 minutes P>0.0001 (T=11.6028, SE 0.353). Conclusion: Obesity significantly delays treatment pathway in Breast Cancer patients, and increases mammographic imaging time. These are important considerations with an increasingly obese population for health care provision planning of such patients.
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