Evaluation of an Early Individualized Integrated Rehabilitation Program versus Standard Rehabilitation Program for Smoking Cessation in 115 Smokers Among 467 Female Breast Cancer Patients 2019-2021 in Slovenia.

BACKGROUND Cigarette smoking affects cancer risk and cardiovascular risk. Smoking cessation is very beneficial for health. This study aimed to evaluate an early individualized integrated rehabilitation program and standard rehabilitation program for smoking cessation in breast cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS This prospective study included 467 breast cancer patients (29-65 (mean 52) years of age) treated at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana from 2019 to 2021 and were followed longer than 1 year. The control group and intervention group included 282 and 185 patients, respectively. Three questionnaires were completed by patients before and 1 year after the beginning of oncological treatment. The intervention group received interventions according to the patient's needs, while the control group underwent standard rehabilitation. The data obtained from the survey were analyzed using the chi-square test and analysis of variance. RESULTS In total, 115 patients were tobacco smokers before the beginning of cancer treatment. There were no differences between the intervention and control group in the prevalence of smoking before the treatment. Before the cancer treatment, smoking was present in the intervention group in 22% and in control group in 27% (P=0.27). One year after the beginning of cancer treatment, smoking was present in the intervention group in only 10% of cases, while it was present in control group in 20% of cases. Smoking was significantly less common in the intervention group than in the control group (P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS Smoking cessation was more common after early integrated rehabilitation than after standard rehabilitation.

Does concurrent gynaecological surgery affect infectious complications rate after mastectomy with implant-based reconstruction?

BACKGROUND: Women who undergo breast cancer surgery often have an indication for gynaecological procedure. The aim of our study was to compare infectious complications rate after mastectomy with implant-based reconstruction in patients with and without concurrent gynaecological procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 159 consecutively operated patients after mastectomy with implant-based reconstruction. The patients were divided in 2 groups: 102 patients without (Group1) and 57 with (Group 2) concurrent gynaecological procedure. Infectious complications rates between the groups were compared using χ2-test. Logistic regression was performed to test for association of different variables with infectious complications. RESULTS: There were 240 breast reconstructions performed. Median follow-up time was 297 days (10-1061 days). Mean patient age was 47.2 years (95% CI 32.8-65.9); 48.2 years (95% CI 46.1-50.3) in Group 1 and 45.8 years (95% CI 43.2-48.3) in Group 2; p = 0.002). Infectious complications rate was 17.6% (17.6% vs. 17.5%, p = 0.987), implant loss occurred in 5.7% (4.9% vs. 7.0%, p = 0.58). Obesity (body mass index [BMI] > 30 kg/m2), age, previous breast conserving treatment (BCT) with radiotherapy (RT) were identified as risk factors for infectious complications in univariate analysis. Obesity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.319, 95% CI 1.085-10.157, p = 0.036) and BCT with RT (aOR 7.481, 95% CI 2.230-25.101, p = 0.001) were independently associated with infectious complications in multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent gynaecological procedure for patients undergoing mastectomy with implant-based reconstruction did not carry an increased risk for infectious complications.

Radiotherapy-associated angiosarcoma in the breast reconstructed by autologous free-flap and treated with electrochemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy-associated angiosarcoma (RAA) of the breast is a rare complication of radiotherapy, which is often difficult to identify and has poor prognosis. It usually presents as violaceous skin, erythema or rapidly growing palpable firm mass that can be confused with other benign skin lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After reviewing the literature, we found only four cases with RAA after mastectomy and autologous breast reconstruction. The presented case is the first that was treated by electrochemotherapy. The patient presented with secondary angiosarcoma of the breast five years after mastectomy, immediate breast reconstruction with deep inferior epigastric artery perforator free flap and adjuvant radiotherapy. RESULTS: Electrochemotherapy was feasible, safe and effective in treatment of radiation induced sarcoma. Most of the treated lesions in several consecutive electrochemotherapy sessions responded with complete response, but multiple recurrences occurred in non-treated areas. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with breast cancer after skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction, who receive radiotherapy, need regular long-term follow up and low threshold for biopsy of any suspicious lesions is mandatory. Electrochemotherapy proved as one of feasible modalities of treatment for RAA.