THE MANAGEMENT OF OPERABLE BREAST-CANCER IN SCOTLAND SURGEONS OPINIONS

This report gives the responses of general surgeons in Scotland to two questionnaires. Satisfactory rates were obtained. 82% for the more de tailed survey in 1988 and 62% for the second survey (1991), where non- respondents were not followed up In 1988 the rationale was the poor pa rticipation in the Scottish breast conservation trial while the 1991 s urvey further investigated the diversity of surgical opinion identifie d in the first. The limited trial support in 1988 was mainly due to re luctance to accept all treatment options. The majority were prepared t o consider trial participation although 47% believed this compromised doctor-patient relationships. Although breast-conserving therapy was w idely supported, many different views on management were encountered, both in the degree of influence of specific factors and in the decisio ns taken in relation to them. We believe these surveys have re-inforce d a need for management guidelines, particularly as around half the pa tients with symptomatic breast cancer were being treated in non-specia list units.