PhD Defence Veerle Marieke Wintraecken

Keywords: Breast cancer, Sentinel lymph node biopsy, Patient-reported outcomes, Personality 
 

"The impact of omitting sentinel lymph node biopsy on radiation therapy adherence, patient-reported outcomes, and cost effectiveness"

Each year, approximately 17,000 Dutch women are diagnosed with breast cancer, with 6,000 cases detected at an early stage (cT1-2N0). These patients typically receive breast-conserving therapy, often including a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). However, SLNB may cause side effects such as arm morbidity. The BOOG 2013-08 trial investigates whether SLNB can be safely omitted to avoid overtreatment and reduce side effects. The study compared both medical and patient-reported outcomes between groups with and without SLNB. While patients without SLNB reported slightly better arm function, the differences were not clinically relevant. Additionally, the study found that personality traits, such as neuroticism and dispositional anxiety, significantly affect the experience of symptoms and quality of life. Patients with vulnerable personality profiles reported more side effects and lower quality of life. These findings highlight the importance of integrating personality assessment into oncology care to offer targeted support and improve patient well-being. 

Click here for the live stream.