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To better help women who wish to perform breast reconstruction after breast cancer, the High Authority for Health (HAS) and the National Cancer Institute (INCa) have developed an online shared decision-making support platform. . A way to allow them to access clear and educational information on the subject.
Each year in France, approximately 59,000 women will declare breast cancer. If overall, the five-year survival for this type of cancer is rather high (87%), many women must still undergo breast removal to cure.
More than 22,000 mastectomies per year in France
In fact, 22,000 mastectomies (ablations of the breast) or rather lumpectomies – removal of the tumor only, in the majority of cases of breast cancer – are performed each year in France. Following this procedure, during the same operation or later, the patient can choose to obtain breast reconstruction using different techniques. It is estimated on average that they are 30% to make this choice.
To guide them along this path, HAS and INCa have joined forces to draw up a news platform on this subject, already available online.
Help to choose its reconstruction, with the support of professionals
This tool will help patients choose the modalities of their operation: reconstruct a volume, choose the surgical technique that is best suited, opt for reconstruction at the same time as the removal of the tumor or the breast, depending on the case. … Choices which can be difficult to make, and which must be adjusted as closely as possible to the choices of the patients concerned.
In this situation, the support of a healthcare professional can be invaluable: this is why HAS and INCa encourage professionals and women to engage in a “shared decision-making” approach.
Decision-making in five steps
On the platform, this exchange takes place in five stages, between one or more health professionals and the patient, accompanied or not by her relatives:
- Explain to the patient the nature of the decisions she must make;
- Explore their preferences or priorities;
- Help her explore and compare options;
- Make a decision together;
- Plan the next steps in the care pathway.
In addition, the platform also has informative documents to consult, testimonials from women, explanations of the different surgical techniques… So much content for a progressive journey that will allow these women to reach the best decision for their health. .