(NAPSA)—Physicians delivering a diagnosis of breast cancer often face a shocked and confused patient. While helping a woman navigate through these intense emotions, physicians must also provide complex education on the wide variety of treatment options now available. The discussions between doctor and patient are significant. A woman’s treatment choice at this critical juncture can change her future prognosis. How sheis counseled, how she processes the information and which treatments are offered can be essential factors for a healthy future. Unfortunately, the dynamic between patient and doctoris rarely studied and often misunderstood, which is why Research to Practice, a medical education company based in Miami, Fla., decided to examine the values and perspectives of women with breast cancer. The group hoped to shed light on the patient-doctor exchange and demonstrate that some women would prefer more options during counseling. To begin the project, Neil Love, M.D., President of Research to Practice and a medical oncologist, held “Town Hall” meetings in New York, N.Y., Miami, Fla. and Hous- ton, Texas for breast cancer sur- vivors and their loved ones. During these daylong meetings, more than 1,200 participants were asked, via anonymous handheld keypadpolling, about the different factors used to maketheir initial treatment choices (all participants @ were at least one year from primary diagnosis). The women were also surveyed about their overall comprehension of discussions they had with their doctors and interest in participating in clinical trials. Utilizing a panel of renowned breast cancer research leaders, Love presented various medical scenarios to them and asked participants to vote on which treatment they would choose if faced vivors preferred treatment with the aromatase inhibitor Arimidex (anastrozole) in lieu of a more traditional approach with tamoxifen. More of the attendees preferred the side effect profile of anastrozole and thelikelihood that this therapy would be preferred increased significantly as the risk of relapse in the theoretical scenario increased. In pre-menopausal, high-risk “We wanted to evaluate the complicated alternatives available to women duringinitial diagnosis, and how physicians can effectively present and discuss the options,” Love said. “By analyzing how an individual woman perceives the risks and benefits of bination of tamoxifen and ovarian with a similar diagnosis. common therapeutic interven- tions—such as chemotherapy and hormonal therapy—physicians will be better able to guide patients through the difficult decision-making process.” The survey resulted in several surprising outcomes. A large percentage of women with breast cancer would choose to undergo chemotherapy, even if it only minimally reduced the risk of breast cancer mortality. For example, 56 percent of women would undergo four to six months of potentially toxic chemotherapy for a one percent reduction in the risk of dying of breast cancer. Another major finding related to choice of hormonal therapy in women with tumors containing estrogen-receptors. In post- menopausal scenarios, many sur- situations, attendees chose a com- suppression. Both hormonal inter- ventions have demonstrated promising results in recent clinical trials. Many women also wanted to receive counseling from their physicians about the option of adjuvant Herceptin (trastuzumab) in high-risk situations, despite unproven benefit. Most also indicated that they would not agree to participate in a clinical research study evaluating this intervention because they were unwilling to have a random assignment of the therapy. “This information will help us decipher how patients make choices in regards to treatment options,” Love said. “It also sends a message to physicians to be open to the idea of presenting all optionsto their patients.” Research to Practice is a medical education group based in Miami, Fla. specializing in physician and allied health professional education. For additional information on the results contact Brian Moss at 305-377-2828.
