Kathryn J. Ruddy, MD, MPH, on Breast Cancer and Quality of Life: Expert Perspective
2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
Kathryn J. Ruddy, MD, MPH, of the Mayo Clinic, summarizes a special spotlight session that included discussion of interventions to improve quality of life and the importance of lifestyle in the prevention of cancer and cancer recurrence.
Monica Morrow, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center reviews lessons learned from top abstracts, including how to tailor the extent of local therapy to minimize morbidity, the diminishing role of axillary lymph node dissection, long-term sequelae of breast surgical procedures, and the need to discuss outcomes with patients.
Laura S. Dominici, MD, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses the lower quality-of-life scores seen after unilateral or bilateral mastectomy compared with breast-conserving surgery in women younger than age 40 who are treated for breast cancer (Abstract GS6-05).
Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Daniel F. Hayes, MD, of the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center debate whether all women with breast cancer and positive lymph nodes should receive chemotherapy.
François-Clément Bidard, MD, PhD, of the Institut Curie and the University of Versailles, discusses phase III study findings on the clinical utility of circulating tumor cell count as a tool to choose between first-line hormone therapy and chemotherapy for estrogen receptor–positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (Abstract GS3-07).
Roberto A. Leon-Ferre, MD, of the Mayo Clinic, discusses study findings on the effectiveness of oxybutynin in decreasing the frequency and severity of hot flashes (Abstract GS6-01).