Breast cancer care has advanced notably in recent years. Research by the Health Care Inspectorate shows that by 2009, consultations between doctors and treatment teams had increased, enabling more accurate diagnoses before surgery.
These changes have also enhanced outcomes for breast-conserving operations. In 2007, tumor remnants were detected in 12.1% of patients post-surgery; this fell to 8.9% in 2009, meaning fewer women needed a second operation to remove residual tissue.
More about breast cancer and early signs
The research confirms that all hospitals studied now have the tools to make a proper diagnosis before surgery. Accurate pre-operative diagnoses were achieved in 93% of cases, boosting care quality.
Treatment plan
By 2009, multidisciplinary consultations occurred in every hospital examined, where all relevant disciplines discussed the diagnosis and treatment plan. These meetings existed in 2007 but were not always conducted effectively then.
