Cost-effectiveness of different surgical treatment approaches for early breast cancer: a retrospective matched cohort study from China.

BACKGROUND: Both breast-conserving surgery and breast reconstruction surgery are less popular in China, although they can improve patients' quality of life. The main reason comes from the economy. There is currently no economic evaluation of different surgical treatment options for early breast cancer. Our study aims to assess the economic impact and long-term cost-effectiveness of different surgical treatments for early breast cancer. The surgical approaches are including mastectomy (MAST), breast-conserving therapy (BCT), and mastectomy with reconstruction (MAST+RECON). METHODS: Based on demographic data, disease-related information and other treatments, we applied propensity score matching (PSM) to perform 1: 1 matching among patients who underwent these three types of surgery in the tertiary academic medical center from 2011 to 2017 to obtain a balanced sample of covariates between groups. A Markov model was established. Clinical data and cost data were obtained from the medical records. Health utility values were derived from clinical investigations. Strategies were compared using an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). RESULTS: After PSM, there were 205 cases in each group. In the matched data set, the distribution of covariates was fully balanced. The total cost of MAST, MAST+RECON and BCT was $37,392.84, $70,556.03 and $82,330.97, respectively. The quality-adjusted life year (QALYs) were 17.11, 18.40 and 20.20, respectively. Compared with MAST, MAST+RECON and BCT have an ICER of $25,707.90/QALY and $14,543.08/QALY, respectively. The ICER of BCT vs. MAST was less than the threshold of $27,931.04. The reliability and stability of the results were confirmed by Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that in the context of the limited resources in China, after comparing the three surgical approaches, BCT is the more cost-effective and preferred solution.

Development of a method to determine the cost of breast cancer treatment with chemotherapy at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: There has been no comprehensive study determining the financial burden of breast cancer in the South African (SA) public sector. OBJECTIVES: To develop a method to determine the cost of breast cancer treatment with chemotherapy per episode of care and to quantify the associated costs relating to chemotherapy at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH), a government hospital in SA. These costs included costs associated with the management of adverse events arising from chemotherapy. METHODS: Retrospective patient-level data were collected for 200 patients from electronic databases and patient folders between 2013 and 2015. Direct medical costs were determined from the health funder's perspective. The information collected was categorised into the following cost components: chemotherapy medicines, support medicines, administration of chemotherapy, laboratory tests, radiology scans and imaging, doctor consultations and adverse events. Time-and-motion studies were conducted on a set of new patients and the data obtained were used for the study sample of 200 patients. All the above costs were used to determine the cost of chemotherapy per episode of care. The episode of care was defined as the care provided from 2 months prior to the date of commencing chemotherapy (pre-chemotherapy phase), during chemotherapy (treatment phase) and until 6 months after the date when the last cycle of chemotherapy was administered (follow-up phase). RESULTS: A method was developed to determine the episode-of-care costs for breast cancer at GSH. The total direct medical cost for treatment of breast cancer at GSH for 200 patients was ZAR3 154 877, and the average episode-of-care cost per patient was ZAR15 774. The average cost of management of adverse events arising from the various treatment modalities was ZAR13 133 per patient. It was found that the cost of treating a patient with adverse events was 1.8 times higher than the cost of treating a patient without adverse events. Of the patients, 86.5% managed to complete their prescribed chemotherapy treatment cycles, and the average cost of treatment of these patients was 1.3 times more than the average cost for patients who could not complete their treatment, based on the number of treatment cycles received. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive method to determine the costs associated with breast cancer management per episode of care was developed, and costs were quantified at GSH according to the treatment protocol used at the hospital.

Is Bigger Better?: The Effect of Hospital Consolidation on Index Hospitalization Costs and Outcomes Among Privately Insured Recipients of Immediate Breast Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between hospital market competition and inpatient costs, procedural markup, inpatient complications, and length of stay among privately insured patients undergoing immediate reconstruction after mastectomy. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of privately insured female patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction in the 2009 to 2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample was performed. The Herfindahl-Hirschman index was used to describe hospital market competition; associations with outcomes were explored via hierarchical models adjusting for patient, hospital, and market characteristics. RESULTS: A weighted total of 42,411 patients were identified; 5920 (14.0%) underwent free flap reconstruction. In uncompetitive markets, 6.8% (n=857) underwent free flap reconstruction, compared with 13.6% (n=2773) in highly competitive markets and 24.6% (n=2290) in moderately competitive markets. For every 5 additional hospitals in a market, adjusted costs were 6.6% higher (95% CI: 2.8%-10.5%), for free flap reconstruction, and 5.1% higher (95% CI: 2.0%-8.4%) for nonfree flap reconstruction. Similarly, higher procedural markup was associated with increased hospital market competition both for nonfree flap reconstruction (5.5% increase, 95% CI: 1.1%-10.1%) and for free flap reconstruction (8.2% increase, 95% CI: 1.8%-15.0%). Notably, there was no association between incidence of inpatient complications or extended length of stay and hospital market competition among either free flap or nonfree flap reconstruction patients. CONCLUSIONS: Decreasing market competition was associated with lower inpatient costs and equivocal clinical outcomes. This suggests that some of the economies of scale, access to capital and care delivery efficiencies gained from increased market power following hospital mergers are passed onto payers and consumers as lower costs.

Treatment patterns, clinical outcomes, health resource utilization, and cost in patients with BRCA-mutated metastatic breast cancer treated in community oncology settings.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study of community oncology patients with breast cancer gene (BRCA)-mutated metastatic breast cancer (MBC) examined treatment outcomes and health resource utilization (HRU) and costs for a sample of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative disease who were either hormone receptor positive (HR+) or triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS: Evidence from the Vector Oncology Data Warehouse, a repository of electronic medical records/billing data and provider notes, was analyzed. Treatment outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) from start of first-line therapy in the metastatic setting. HRU and cost measures were collected from the time of MBC diagnosis to end of the record. HRU included hospitalizations, emergency room visits, infused/parenteral supportive care drugs, and outpatient visits. Costs were computed both as total and monthly costs. RESULTS: 57 HR+ and 57 TNBC patients (2013-2015) met inclusion criteria. Eight TNBC patients did not get treatment. HR+ patients had median first line PFS of 12.1 months and TNBC patients had 6.1 months. HR+ patients had median OS from start of first line of 38.4 months, and TNBC patients had 23.4 months. Rate of use of infused/parenteral supportive care drugs was 25.5% overall and 36.7% among TNBC patients with 15.8% among HR+ patients. CONCLUSION: There is an unmet need in BRCA-mutated patients with MBC, including those with HR+ and TNBC disease. The unmet need among TNBC patients was most evident in that 12% were not treated and TNBC patients appeared to have poor treatment outcomes. MICRO ABSTRACT: Reviewed medical records for outcomes, resource utilization, and costs in 114 community patients with BRCA mutated metastatic breast cancer. 57 hormone positive (HP); 57 triple negative (TN). RESULTS: median PFS: 12.1 months HP; 6.1 TN. HP OS was 38.4; TN 23.4. Rate of infused supportive care drugs: 25.5% HP; 36.7% TN. Patients with TN disease need better therapeutic options.

The impact and indications for Oncotype DX on adjuvant treatment recommendations when third-party funding is unavailable.

OBJECTIVES: Industry-supported decision impact studies demonstrate that Oncotype Dx (ODX) changes treatment recommendations (TR) in 24-40% of hormone receptor+/HER2- patients. ODX is not reimbursed by third-party payers in Australia, potentially resulting in more selective use. We sought to evaluate the impact of self-funded ODX on TRs. METHODS: Data collected included demographics, tumor characteristics, indication for ODX and pre- and post-recurrence score (RS) TR. Primary endpoint was frequency of TR change and associations with TR change were sought. RESULTS: Eighteen physicians contributed 382 patients (median age 54). A total of 232 (61%) of tumors were T1 and were grade 1, 2 and 3 in 49 (13%), 252 (66%) and 79 (21%). A total of 257 (67%) were node negative. Assay indications were: confirm need for chemotherapy (CT) (36%), confirm omission of CT (40%) and genuine equipoise (24%). RS was low (≤17) in 55%, intermediate (18-31) in 36% and high (≥32) in 9%. Thirty-eight percent of patients had TR change post-ODX. Sixty-five percent of patients recommended CT pre-ODX changed to hormone therapy alone (HT)-more likely if lower grade and if ER and/or PR > 10%. Fourteen percent of patients with pre-ODX TR for HT added CT-more likely if ER and/or PR ≤10% and if Ki67 > 15% Overall, TR for CT decreased from 47% to 24%. CONCLUSION: Patient-funded ODX changed TRs in 38% of patients, de-escalating 65% from CT to HT and adding CT to 14% of those recommended HT. These changes were greater than an industry-funded study suggesting that physicians can identify situations where the assay may influence decisions.

Influence of Distance to Hospital and Insurance Status on the Rates of Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy, a National Cancer Data Base study.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the impact of travel distance and insurance status on contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) rates in breast cancer. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) for women >18 years of age with a nonmetastatic primary breast cancer of ductal, lobular, or mixed histology. Patient- and facility-specific CPM rates were calculated based on insurance, race, and distance to treatment center. Standard univariable and multivariable regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Overall, the CPM rate was 6.5% for the 864,105 patients identified. Most patients traveled <20 miles to a treatment center (79.5%) and had private insurance or Medicare (58.3 and 33.4%, respectively). In general, younger, White, non-Hispanic, and privately insured patients residing further from a treatment center was associated with increased rates of CPM. However, distance to the treatment center and insurance type had a greater absolute impact on rates of CPM for Black and Hispanic patients. Absolute CPM rate increases for patients >100 miles from a treatment center compared with those <20 miles from a treatment center were observed to be greater for Black and Hispanic patients (3.5 and 3.9%, respectively) compared with White and non-Hispanic patients (2.5 and 2.6%). Additionally, further patient travel distance was associated with higher treatment center-specific CPM rates. CONCLUSION: Increased travel distance is independently associated with increased rates of CPM for all patients and increased facility-specific rates of CPM. Black and Hispanic patients were found to be more vulnerable to the impact of travel distance and insurance status on rates of CPM.

Cavity Shaving Reduces Involved Margins and Reinterventions Without Increasing Costs in Breast-Conserving Surgery: A Propensity Score-Matched Study.

BACKGROUND: Currently, reinterventions for involved margins after breast-conserving surgery remain common. The aim of this study was to assess the capability of the cavity shave margins (CSM) technique to reduce positive margin rates and reoperations compared with simple lumpectomy (SL). The impact of CSM on the various biological portraits of breast cancer and costs were also investigated. METHODS: A retrospective review of 976 consecutive patients from a single center was performed; 164 patients underwent SL and 812 received CSM. All patients were treated with an oncoplastic approach. and involved margins and reoperations were compared for each group. To avoid selection bias, propensity score-matched analysis was performed before applying a logistic regression model. Main outcomes were reanalyzed for each biological portrait, and surgery and hospitalization costs for SL and CSM were compared. RESULTS: Clear margins were found in 98.3% of patients in the CSM group versus 74.4% of patients in the SL group (p < 0.001). The reoperation rate was 18.9% in the SL group and 1.9% in the CSM group (p < 0.001). After propensity score-matched logistic regression, odds ratio (OR) for positive final margin status was 6.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.85-13.46; p < 0.001) without CSM, while OR for reintervention was 5.46 (95% CI 2.21-13.46; p < 0.001). CSM significantly reduced positive margins and reexcisions for Luminal A, Luminal B, and triple-negative breast cancers (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.0137, respectively). SL had higher global costs compared with CSM: €193,630.6 versus €177,830 for 100 treated patients (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: CSM reduces reexcisions, mainly in luminal breast cancers, without increasing costs.

Economic Impact of Routine Cavity Margins Versus Standard Partial Mastectomy in Breast Cancer Patients: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare costs associated with excision of routine cavity shave margins (CSM) versus standard partial mastectomy (PM) in patients with breast cancer. BACKGROUND: Excision of CSM reduces re-excision rates by more than 50%. The economic implications of this is, however, unclear. METHODS: Between October 21, 2011 and November 25, 2013, 235 women undergoing PM for Stage 0-III breast cancer were randomized to undergo either standard PM ("no shave", n = 116) or have additional CSM taken ("shave", n = 119). Costs from both a payer and a hospital perspective were measured for index surgery and breast cancer surgery-related care through subsequent 90 days. RESULTS: The 2 groups were well-matched in terms of baseline characteristics. Those in the "shave" group had a longer operative time at the initial surgery (median 76 vs 66 min, P < 0.01), but a lower re-excision rate for positive margins (13/119 = 10.9% vs 32/116 = 27.6%, P < 0.01). Actual direct hospital costs associated with operating room time ($1315 vs. $1137, P = 0.03) and pathology costs ($1195 vs $795, P < 0.01) were greater for the initial surgery in patients in the "shave" group. Taking into account the index surgery and the subsequent 90 days, there was no significant difference in cost from either the payer ($10,476 vs $11,219, P = 0.40) or hospital perspective ($5090 vs $5116, P = 0.37) between the "shave" and "no shave" groups. CONCLUSIONS: Overall costs were not significantly different between the "shave" and "no shave" groups due to significantly fewer reoperative surgeries in the former.

A Cost Analysis of Preoperative Breast MRI Use for Patients with Invasive Lobular Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Whereas the impact of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast on the surgical management of breast cancer patients is well documented, less is known about its effect on health care costs. This study aimed to evaluate whether MRI use for women with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) significantly changes the cost of care. METHODS: Patients with ILC were recruited to a prospective registry study of breast MRI. Women who met the same inclusion criteria but had not undergone breast MRI were retrospectively identified for comparison. A micro-costing analysis using institutional billing records was conducted. Nonparametric bootstrapping was used to compare the unadjusted cost differences between the patients receiving MRI and those receiving no MRI. RESULTS: Of the patients in this study, 51 had preoperative MRI, and 60 did not. Method of diagnostic biopsy, disease stage, oncologic procedure, and rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy were similar between the two groups. The patients in the MRI group were younger (median age 55 vs. 64 years; p = 0.01) and more likely to undergo reconstruction (45.1 vs. 25 %; p = 0.03). The median costs of care were significantly higher in the MRI group ($24,781 vs. $18,921; p < 0.01). After adjustment for clinical factors, MRI remained significantly associated with increased cost (p = 0.03). Other factors associated with increased cost included type of oncologic procedure (mastectomy vs. lumpectomy; p < 0.01), number of operations required to achieve negative margins (1 vs. >1; p < 0.01), and use of reconstruction (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Preoperative breast MRI increases the median total cost of care per patient. However, the contribution to the overall cost of care is modest compared with the cost of other interventions.

Breast Cancer Inpatients Undergoing Mastectomy from a Hospital in Guangzhou, China: A Retrospective Analysis 2004- 2013.

BACKGROUND: To explore the hospitalizations of breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy, and to provide a basis for management, clinical prevention and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an investigation by means of the retrospective survey and the medical records retrieval system, and made out the data of patients suffered from breast cancer in a hospital in Guangzhou from 2004 to 2013, including age, medical payment methods, pathological type, treatment, treatment results, complications, hospitalization days, cost and so on. RESULTS: The average age of the inpatients was 50.14 years old. The main histologic types were infiltrating duct carcinoma (88.06%). The main surgery was modified radical mastectomy (80.41%). The cure rate was 90.80% during the 10 years. The main medical payment method was self-paying (57.28%). The average hospital stay was 13.51 days, and average hospitalization cost was RMB 23,083.66 yuan, proportion of drug fees up to 39.70%. Postoperative complication rate was 0.79%. The self-paying group was with the highest proportion of drug fees (P<0.05), while the free medical service group was with the longest hospitalization days (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The payment methods significantly affected the proportion of drug fees and hospitalization days. The therapeutic effect was satisfactory with less complications and reasonable proportion of drug fees in our hospital.

Blogging through cancer: young women's persistent problems shared online.

BACKGROUND: Many young women have turned to illness blogs to describe their lived experience with cancer. Blogs represent an untapped source of knowledge for researchers and clinicians. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory study was to describe the life disruptions caused by cancer among young women, as well as to understand the facilitators and barriers in accessing healthcare services during and after active treatment. METHODS: Sixteen Internet illness blogs were analyzed among women, aged between 20 and 39 years, diagnosed with cancer. These blogs were analyzed based on phenomenological qualitative methods and thematic analysis. RESULTS: There were 4 dimensions of persistent problems that were articulated in the narratives of the young women without any relief. They included pain and fatigue, insurance and financial barriers, concerns related to fertility, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress and anxiety. CONCLUSION: The young women's narratives capture fear, uncertainty, anger, and the debilitating nature of these persistent issues. Many of the women expressed their lingering physical, psychosocial, and emotional problems. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Online illness narratives are a naturalistic form of inquiry that allows nurses to understand the experience of the patient through their own words and accounts. This study provides a foundation for nursing-based interventions that transcend traditional clinic experiences.

Cost comparison of radiation treatment options after lumpectomy for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy (RT) after lumpectomy for breast cancer can be delivered with several different regimens. We evaluated a cost-minimization strategy to select among RT options. METHODS: An institutional review board (IRB)-approved retrospective review identified a sample of 100 women who underwent lumpectomy for invasive or in situ breast cancer during 2009. Post lumpectomy RT options included: no radiation in women ≥70 years [T1N0, estrogen receptor (ER)+] per Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 9343 (no-RT), accelerated external-beam partial-breast irradiation (APBI), and Canadian fractionation (C-RT), as alternatives to standard whole-breast radiation therapy (WBRT). Eligibility for RT regimens was based on published criteria. RT costs were estimated using the 2011 US Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and average Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes billed per regimen at our institution. Costs were modeled in a 1,000-patient theoretical cohort. RESULTS: Median patient age was 56.5 years (range 32-93 years). Tumor histology included invasive ductal cancer (78 %), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (15 %), invasive lobular cancer (6 %), and mixed histology (1 %). Median tumor size was 1 cm (range 0.2-5 cm). Estimated per-patient cost of radiation was US$5,341.81 for APBI, US$9,121.98 for C-RT, and US$13,358.37 for WBRT. When patients received the least expensive radiation regimen for which they were eligible, 14 % received no-RT, 44 % received APBI, 7 % received C-RT, and 35 % defaulted to WBRT. Using a cost-minimization strategy, estimated RT costs were US$7.67 million, versus US$13.36 million had all patients received WBRT, representing cost savings of US$5.69 million per 1,000 patients treated. CONCLUSIONS: A cost-minimization strategy results in a 43 % reduction in estimated radiation costs among women undergoing breast conservation.

Unsuccessful preoperative biopsies, fine needle aspiration cytology or core needle biopsy, lead to increased costs in the diagnostic workup in breast cancer.

Correct preoperative diagnosis of a breast lesion is essential for optimal treatment planning. Our aim was to compare feasibility of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and core needle biopsy (CNB) in diagnosis of breast lesions. The special aim was to evaluate the extra costs and delay in surgical treatment due to unsuccessful preoperative biopsies. Diagnostic work-ups in 572 patients with 580 breast lesions were retrospectively evaluated. FNAC was the first biopsy method for 339 lesions, CNB for 241 lesions. The postoperative diagnosis was malignant for 503 lesions. The preoperative rate of definitely malignant diagnosis was 67% (194/289) for FNAC and 96% (206/214) for CNB (p < 0.0001), and 95% and 99%, respectively (p = 0.0173), when also suspicious findings were included. In patients with FNAC, an additional needle biopsy was performed for 93 and a surgical biopsy for 62 lesions. In the CNB group, a subsequent CNB was performed for 2 and a surgical biopsy for 33. The frequent need for additional biopsies raised the total expenses of FNAC over those of CNB. Multiple biopsies may also delay cancer surgery. It is therefore recommended to use CNB as the initial needle biopsy method.