Journal article
Body Weight and Breast Cancer Treatment Experiences: Results From the Share Thoughts on a Breast Cancer Study
Cancer medicine (Malden, MA), Vol.14(3), e004536
02/2025
DOI: 10.1002/cam4.70628
PMCID: PMC11794236
PMID: 39905674
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
Abstract
Purpose
Differences in breast cancer recurrence and survival occur by body size; the role of treatment differences in these disparities has been underexplored. Our objective was to evaluate differences in treatments received, patient experiences of care, and treatment decision-making processes among breast cancer survivors by body size.
Methods
We used data from the Share Thoughts on Breast Cancer study. Participants (n = 1198) completed a survey that included information on demographics, treatments received, quality of care, and decision-making. We used descriptive statistics to evaluate differences in survey response by BMI category, and multivariable-adjusted multinomial and logistic regression to examine associations of BMI with treatments received.
Results
Those with higher BMI were more likely to be older, report fair/poor health, not have a college-level education, be non-white, not be insured, have an income under $50,000, be unemployed, and report a history of several chronic diseases. Although there were unadjusted associations, after adjustment, women with obesity were not significantly less likely to receive mastectomy [OR 0.79 (0.50, 1.26) and OR 0.66 (0.38, 1.16), for BMI 30–35 and 35+ kg/m2 respectively] or contralateral prophylactic mastectomy [OR 0.92 (0.59, 1.44) and OR 0.80 (0.46, 1.39)] than those without obesity. Similarly, we found no association of BMI with reconstructive surgery [OR 0.97 (0.58, 1.60) and OR 0.58 (0.30, 1.11)] after adjustment. Women with obesity were less likely to report that their breast cancer care was excellent or very good (p = 0.026).
Conclusions
We observed no differences in breast cancer treatments received by BMI after adjustment for key covariates in this study sample. Further research is necessary to determine why quality of care may be perceived as lower among women with obesity.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Body Weight and Breast Cancer Treatment Experiences: Results From the Share Thoughts on a Breast Cancer Study
- Creators
- Sarah H. Nash - University of IowaElizabeth Verhage - University of IowaBradley D. McDowell - University of IowaJoan Neuner - Medical College of WisconsinElizabeth Chrischilles - University of IowaIngrid M. Lizarraga - University of IowaMary Schroeder - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Cancer medicine (Malden, MA), Vol.14(3), e004536
- DOI
- 10.1002/cam4.70628
- PMID
- 39905674
- PMCID
- PMC11794236
- NLM abbreviation
- Cancer Med
- ISSN
- 2045-7634
- eISSN
- 2045-7634
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Grant note
- National Institutes of Health
This work was funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Award (CDRN-1306-04631) for the development of the national patient-centered clinical research network, known as PCORnet. It was also supported by the National Institutes of Health (UL1TR002537, P30 CA086862, and R50 CA243692).
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2025
- Academic Unit
- Pharmacy; Epidemiology; Surgery; Pharmacy Practice and Science; Center for Social Science Innovation; Community and Behavioral Health; Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Record Identifier
- 9984786309202771
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