Current Status and Factors Influencing Surgical Options for Breast Cancer in China: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey of 110 Hospitals

Abstract

Background. There are limited nationwide data regarding breast cancer surgery in China. The Chinese Anti-Cancer Association's Committee of Breast Cancer Society and the Chinese Society of Breast Surgeons conducted a nationwide survey to examine the use of and barriers associated with surgical options among patients with breast cancer. Methods. Surveys were sent via e-mail to the directors of 110 centers that performed at least 200 breast cancer operations in 2017. The electronic questionnaire contained 183 questions and covered six aspects, including demographic information about the hospitals and surgeons, surgical practice, and application of breast reconstruction. Results. The selected hospitals were from 31 provinces or municipalities. The overall proportion of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) was 22%. Local gross domestic product was