SUBSEQUENT SURGERY AFTER INITIAL BREAST CONSERVING SURGERY: A POPULATION BASED STUDY

Background:  In line with current Australian early breast cancer management guidelines, more women are having breast conserving surgery to treat breast cancer when appropriate. Some women will undergo further surgery because of involved margins, early local relapse, or other factors including patient choice. The aim of this study was to investigate whether socio‐economic, demographic or hospital factors were associated with the risk of re‐excision or subsequent mastectomy.Methods:  A record linkage population‐based study on 12 711 women diagnosed with breast cancer in Western Australia from 1982 to 2000 who underwent breast surgery within 12 months of diagnosis was performed. Logistic regression was used to identify social, demographic and hospital factors associated with the risk of undergoing further surgery following initial breast conserving surgery.Results:  The proportion of women undergoing initial breast conserving surgery doubled from 33% in 1982–1985 to 72% in 1998–2000. The proportion of women who underwent further surgery following initial breast conserving surgery decreased from 50 to 30% over the same period. The risk of re‐excision or subsequent mastectomy was betwee