Search

A 56-year-old woman with a 12-year history of recurrent triple-negative invasive carcinoma of the breast presented with progressive enlargement of lymph nodes in the setting of established rupture of the ipsilateral silicone breast implant. Although this was proven to be benign on cytology, its progressive nature led to repeated core biopsies for histology, which were necessary given the high-risk nature of triple-negative breast cancer and the multiple proven previous recurrences. The histology demonstrated features of silicone deposits without evidence of malignancy. This case demonstrates the dilemma in surveillance of high-risk patients with breast cancer who have had previous silicone lymphadenopathy.

Women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy (gestational cancer) are a small but vulnerable population, with experts suggesting they require greater psycho-social support than either other women with cancer or other pregnant women. However, information on their psychological needs remains sparse. This commentary describes our work exploring the psychological needs of women diagnosed with gestational cancer, areas of unmet need we identified, and our recommendations for future programs and research. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 23 Australian women diagnosed with gestational cancer in the preceding 5 years. Our findings depicted a group of women for whom cancer diagnosis and treatment had resulted in a sense of isolation and loneliness. Women reported seeking tailored information about their condition and treatments as well as one-on-one peer support with other gestational cancer survivors, which was challenging for them to access and which existing services struggled to provide. To address these unmet needs, innovative solutions may be necessary. Technology has the potential to connect and match women with one-to-one peer support, and research exploring the efficacy and acceptability of such interventions is required. Creative solutions, such as virtual resource hubs monitored or moderated by experts, would potentially meet the information needs of this group. However, as gestational cancer is relatively rare, the development and evaluation of such interventions would require a collaborative effort across multiple sites, as well as international collaboration and data pooling.

OBJECTIVES: To identify features enhancing the quality of healthcare experiences for women with gestational cancer, and explore the impact of the heterogeneous Australian healthcare system on those experiences. METHODS: Semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with women diagnosed with any cancer during pregnancy in the last five years. Recruitment occurred during 2018-2019 via social media and professional, clinical and community networks. Questions related to women's experiences of their healthcare, wellbeing and psychosocial needs. Interviews were analysed thematically. RESULTS: Study participants (n = 23) received treatment in the private sector (n = 10), public sector (n = 8), or both (n = 5). Five interview themes were found: Control over healthcare; Trust in clinicians, hospitals and systems; Coordination of care; An uncommon diagnosis; Holistic, future-oriented care. Women were most likely to have had a positive healthcare experience when (a)care was well-coordinated and adjusted to meet their unique needs/challenges, and (b)women perceived their care went beyond their immediate medical needs and encompassed future psychosocial wellbeing, including preparation for postpartum challenges. CONCLUSION: Existing 'usual care' in the public and/or private sector for both the pregnancy and the cancer is insufficient to meet these women's needs. Prioritising psychological wellbeing including psychosocial needs, and communication and planning around fertility and postnatal challenges are essential for this population.

Whilst some of the diversity in management of women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) may be explained by tumour characteristics, the role of patient preference and the factors underlying those preferences have been less frequently examined. We have used a descriptive qualitative study to explore treatment decisions for a group of Australian women diagnosed with DCIS through mammographic screening. Semi-structured telephone interviews were performed with 16 women diagnosed with DCIS between January 2012 and December 2018, recruited through the LifePool dataset (a subset of BreastScreen participants who have agreed to participate in research). Content analysis using deductive coding identified three themes: participants did not have a clear understanding of their diagnosis or prognosis; reported involvement in decision making about management varied; specific factors including the psychosexual impact of mastectomy and perceptions of radiotherapy, could act as barriers or facilitators to specific decisions about treatment. The treatment the women received was not simply determined by the characteristics of their disease. Interaction with the managing clinician was pivotal, however many other factors played a part in individual decisions. Recognising that decisions are not purely a function of disease characteristics is important for both women with DCIS and the clinicians who care for them., Highlights • Factors other than the characteristics of the DCIS were involved in decisions about management. • There was a lack of understanding about diagnosis and prognosis. •There was inconsistent involvement by women in decision making about management. • Factors such as perception of mastectomy and radiotherapy could act as barriers or facilitators in decision making.

Background and ObjectivesPatients with in-transit melanoma metastasis have longer median survival than patients with distant metastatic disease. Furthermore, local disease control is an important endpoint for symptom management. The treatment of unresectable loco-regional recurrence or in-transit disease has been historically managed with a combination of treatments including surgery, radiotherapy, isolated limb infusion or perfusion as well as systemic therapies. Intralesional PV-10 has been used at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre since 2010, and the current report presents a retrospective analysis of patient outcomes, reporting the response rates, durability of responses, and observed toxicities.MethodsRecords were analyzed retrieving details of 19 patients treated with PV-10 over a 4-year period from 2010 to 2014. Medical records were reviewed for these patients and data extracted.ResultsNineteen patients with in-transit melanoma were treated with intralesional PV-10 between 2010 and 2014. Disease control (complete or partial response or disease stability) was achieved in 68% of patients with 26% having a complete response. This was achieved with minimal associated toxicity.ConclusionsPV-10 is an effective, durable, well-tolerated treatment tool with an acceptable side effect profile for the management of unresectable in-transit melanoma. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:380-384. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

To examine practice patterns for breast cancer patients with limited sentinel node (SN) disease in light of the ACOSOG Z0011 results. Retrospective analysis of patients with T1-2 breast cancer and positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) admitted between January 2009 and December 2012. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatments were recorded. Eight hundred positive SLNBs were identified. A total of 452 (56.5%) proceeded to completion axillary lymph node dissection (cALND). cALND rate decreased from 65.1% to 49.7% from 2009-2010 to 2011-2012. cALND was performed for micrometastasis or isolated tumor cells in 39.3% in 2009-2010 and 22.2% in 2011-2012, whereas for macrometastases the rates were 83.1% and 68.6%, respectively. cALND rates diminished for both Z0011-eligible and -ineligible patients. The ACOSOG Z0011 trial presentation and publication coincided with a reduction in cALND for breast cancer with limited nodal disease. There appears equipoise regarding management of macrometastatic SN disease.