New Computer Program Designed to Help Patients Better Understand Treatment Options

A new computer program has been developed to help physicians discuss about early breast cancer treatment options with their patients, providing easy-to-read summaries of therapy options and forecasting a patient's chances of surviving for ten years. according to a report presented at the European Cancer Conference in Lisbon.

"In prior work, we found that even after talking with their doctors, many women seemed to lack information about the relative benefits of various therapies," said Dr. Peter Ravdin of the University of Texas Health Sciences Center. "Weighing up the options can be made easier by giving the patient information so that she can be a true participant in selecting what is best for her. Treatment guidelines have great value, but they do not supersede the importance of informing patients about the implications of individual treatment choices."

The program is based on international studies of treatment options and data from tumor registries highlighting the risk of death from different types of breast cancer. The risk is calculated by assessing the nature and size of the tumor and whether it shows signs of early spread to the lymph nodes.

Other Sources: Federation of European Cancer Societies