Background The B-MaP-C study aimed to determine alterations to breast cancer (BC) management during the peak transmission period of the UK COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of these treatment decisions. Methods This was a national cohort study of patients with early BC undergoing multidisciplinary team (MDT)-guided treatment recommendations during the pandemic, designated ‘standard’ or ‘COVID-altered’, in the preoperative, operative and post-operative setting. Findings Of 3776 patients (from 64 UK units) in the study, 2246 (59%) had ‘COVID-altered’ management. ‘Bridging’ endocrine therapy was used (n = 951) where theatre capacity was reduced. There was increasing access to COVID-19 low-risk theatres during the study period (59%). In line with national guidance, immediate breast reconstruction was avoided (n = 299). Where adjuvant chemotherapy was omitted (n = 81), the median benefit was only 3% (IQR 2–9%) using ‘NHS Predict’. There was the rapid adoption of new evidence-based hypofractionated radiotherapy (n = 781, from 46 units). Only 14 patients (1%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during their treatment journey. Conclusions The majority of ‘COVID-altered’ management decisions were largely in line with pre-COVID evidence-based guidelines, implying that breast cancer survival outcomes are unlikely to be negatively impacted by the pandemic. However, in this study, the potential impact of delays to BC presentation or diagnosis remains unknown.

Background Perforator artery flaps based on the branches of intercostal arteries and lateral thoracic artery can be used for reconstruction after breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Although described more than a decade ago, these have not been adopted widely in clinical practice. We report on short-term and long-term surgical outcomes of partial breast reconstruction using chest wall perforator flaps from a prospective multicenter audit. Methods All patients operated for BCS and partial breast reconstruction using intercostal artery perforator or lateral thoracic artery perforator flaps from January 2015 to October 2018 were included in the analysis. Oncoplastic breast surgeons with appropriate level of training performed all tumor excisions and reconstructions as a single-stage procedure. Patient characteristics, treatment details and surgical outcomes were noted. Specific outcomes recorded were margin re-excision and complication rates. Results One hundred and twelve patients underwent the procedure in the given study period. The median age was 54 years. Median specimen weight was 62.5 g and median volume of excision was 121.4 mL. Fifteen patients (13.39%) underwent a margin re-excision for close or positive margins without additional morbidity. One patient required a completion mastectomy. Eight patients (7.14%) had an early complication. None of the patients required a contralateral symmetrization procedure. The results were comparable across the participating centers. Conclusions Chest wall artery perforator-based flaps are an excellent option for lateral and inferior quadrant partial breast reconstructions. The short and long-term surgical outcomes are comparable across sites and can be performed with minimal morbidity. Patient-reported outcome measures need to be studied.

Background: The last two decades have seen significant changes in surgical management of breast cancer.The offer of immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) following mastectomy is currently standard practice.Skin sparing and nipple sparing mastectomy with implant-based IBR have emerged as oncologically safe treatment options. Prepectoral implant placement and complete coverage of implant with acellular dermal matrix (ADM) eliminates the need to detach the muscle from underlying chest wall in contrast to the subpectoral technique. We report short-term outcomes of a multicentre study from the United Kingdom (UK) using Braxon ® in women having an IBR. The inpatient hospital stay was 1.48 days. About 23% of patients had a seroma, 30% had erythema requiring antibiotics and the explant rate was 10.2 percent. Bilateral reconstructions were significantly associated with implant loss and peri-operative complications on univariate analysis.Conclusions: Our early experience with this novel prepectoral technique using Braxon ® has shown it to be an effective technique with complication rates comparable to subpectoral IBR. The advantages of prepectoral implant-based IBR are quicker postoperative recovery and short post-operative hospital stay.Long-term studies are required to assess rippling, post-operative animation, capsular contracture and impact of radiotherapy.

Background Rates of surgery and adjuvant therapy for breast cancer vary widely between breast units. This may contribute to differences in survival. This cluster RCT evaluated the impact of decision support interventions (DESIs) for older women with breast cancer, to ascertain whether DESIs influenced quality of life, survival, decision quality, and treatment choice. Methods A multicentre cluster RCT compared the use of two DESIs against usual care in treatment decision-making in older women (aged at least ≥70 years) with breast cancer. Each DESI comprised an online algorithm, booklet, and brief decision aid to inform choices between surgery plus adjuvant endocrine therapy versus primary endocrine therapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy versus no chemotherapy. The primary outcome was quality of life. Secondary outcomes included decision quality measures, survival, and treatment choice. Results A total of 46 breast units were randomized (21 intervention, 25 usual care), recruiting 1339 women (670 intervention, 669 usual care). There was no significant difference in global quality of life at 6 months after the baseline assessment on intention-to-treat analysis (difference –0.20, 95 per cent confidence interval (C.I.) –2.69 to 2.29; P = 0.900). In women offered a choice of primary endocrine therapy versus surgery plus endocrine therapy, knowledge about treatments was greater in the intervention arm (94 versus 74 per cent; P = 0.003). Treatment choice was altered, with a primary endocrine therapy rate among women with oestrogen receptor-positive disease of 21.0 per cent in the intervention versus 15.4 per cent in usual-care sites (difference 5.5 (95 per cent C.I. 1.1 to 10.0) per cent; P = 0.029). The chemotherapy rate was 10.3 per cent at intervention versus 14.8 per cent at usual-care sites (difference –4.5 (C.I. –8.0 to 0) per cent; P = 0.013). Survival was similar in both arms. Conclusion The use of DESIs in older women increases knowledge of breast cancer treatment options, facilitates shared decision-making, and alters treatment selection. Trial registration numbers: EudraCT 2015-004220-61 (https://eudract.ema.europa.eu/), ISRCTN46099296 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).

No abstract