Determined Breast Cancer Patients Seek Better Surgeons

MONDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Breast cancer patients who take a more active role in selecting their surgeon are more likely to be treated by an experienced surgeon at a hospital with an accredited, affiliated cancer program, new research shows.

In the study, which appears in the Jan. 20 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center tracked 1,844 recently diagnosed breast cancer patients in the Detroit and Los Angeles areas.

Almost two-thirds of the women said they were referred to their breast cancer surgeon by another doctor, and 15 percent said they were referred by their health plan.

About 25 percent of the patients said they selected their surgeon based on his or her reputation. This approach was more common among women with higher education and incomes, the study found.

About a third of the patients were treated by a high-volume surgeon -- someone who devoted more than half of their practice to breast surgery. Two-thirds of the patients were treated in a U.S. National Cancer Institute-approved cancer center or in a hospital with a cancer program approved by the American College of Surgeons.

"Women with breast cancer should be aware that referrals from another doctor or their health plan may not connect them with the most experienced surgeons or the most comprehensive practice settings in their community," study author Dr. Steven Katz, a professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School and director of health services research at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center, said in a prepared statement.

"Patients might consider seeking a second opinion, especially if they are advised to undergo a particular treatment without a full discussion of the options," he added.