Active monitoring and regular assessment of IRMA patients is required to determine the safety of these different techniques in terms of complications and recurrence rates. Identifying an optimal strategy for IRMA could lead to the development of clinical guidelines, which are not yet available.
Aim of the study
The research project aims to show how often complications and thus repeat operations occur after immediate breast reconstruction. The aim of the study is to investigate whether there are differences in this respect between the surgical techniques used and whether any radiotherapy influences the occurrence of complications.
Who can take part?
Women who undergo an IRMA (NSM: nipple-areola sparing mastectomy or SSM: skin-sparing mastectomy) can be included in the study. Patients undergoing IRMA for prophylactic or oncological reasons are also eligible to participate.
Procedure
In the first year, you will be asked to complete a quality of life questionnaire specially developed for breast cancer patients at the time of surgery and after 6 and 12 months as part of your routine check-ups. In addition, the wound healing and cosmetic appearance are examined as part of the follow-up checks. With the exception of the additional questionnaire, the examination frequency and procedure correspond to the usual routine procedure after breast removal for breast cancer or its precursors. You will then be followed up annually over a period of 5 years, which is the standard procedure for breast cancer patients.
Compensation
None
Original study name
A multicenter, observational cohort study of women undergoing immediate post-mastectomy breast reconstruction (IRMA)
BASEC number
2017-00900
Financial support from
Breast Center Thurgau