Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to characterize the treatment of young mothers with breast cancer in Germany and to investigate whether it followed applicable guidelines. METHOD: Retrospective data obtained between 2002 and 2011 for 1,053 mothers with children of < 12 years of age with adjuvantly treated loco-regional primary breast cancer were analyzed. Collected data included sociodemographic data, TNM stage, biology of tumor and therapies. Actually received therapies were compared to those suggested in guideline treatment plans. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 39 years. 97% of the women with node positivity received an axillary dissection. Overall, 90% of the patients received chemotherapy with a guideline adherence range of 87-99% depending on clinical parameters. For radiation therapy, guideline adherence was high (range 82-100%). 95% of the patients with a hormone receptor-positive tumor received endocrine therapy; in 94%, tamoxifen therapy was performed in compliance with guidelines, whereas gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist therapy complied with the guidelines in 52% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Guideline adherence in young mothers with breast cancer in Germany was high (with the exception of GnRH therapy), as comorbidity or the ambiguity of the therapeutic success does not need to be considered as much in this young, otherwise usually healthy, cohort compared to an age-heterogeneous group.