The study included women who had been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Researchers interviewed the women after their first surgical consultation, before most of the women had made up their minds about which surgical procedure would be best them. The benefit of such early interviews is that the decision and the important information surrounding that decision was fresh in the mind and relevant to the current situation the women were facing.

After the interviews were compared, the researchers found that because the women were given a choice in their treatment, they felt that they had more control of their future. By allowing the women to make these important decisions, the women subsequently felt empowered and more self-confident. They felt supported by their doctors and surgeons when they made these decisions.

The women in the study also wanted to have plenty of information to make an informed decision and to learn about the disease but at the same time they did not want to feel overwhelmed with mass amounts of data. They wanted the information to be given out in segments rather than all at once and at the right time during their treatment. Some women ignored the literature for the most part and preferred to speak to a person and receive information directly in that way.

Many of the women in the study had already weighed their options before going in to speak with the surgeon. They then compared their decision to what they learned from the consultation.

Their desired outcomes for surgery were motivated by several factors. A mastectomy would be most effective for preventing the recurrence of cancer but a lumpectomy would allow them to retain their physical appearance and recover faster. Most of the women decided that a mastectomy was a better option for the most serious cases of breast cancer.

Going into the surgeon’s consultation, the women expected the surgeon to have a definitive opinion about which surgical option was best. They were surprised to be presented with a decision to make for their selves, but felt confident when the surgeon supported their decision.

This research will benefit doctors and surgeons trying to assess the expectations of their breast cancer patients and to boost the women’s confidence in their care team. The study would also be useful to other breast cancer patients who feel overwhelmed and alone because it contains stories of other patients feeling the same way.