Less than half of women who undergo surgery for breast cancer say they have discussed their risk of recurrence with their healthcare provider, according to a recent national telephone survey.

Researchers surveyed 300 postmenopausal women diagnosed with early breast cancer (stage 0, I, or II). The women had all undergone surgery and either had completed five years of post-surgery hormonal therapy such as tamoxifen (Nolvadex) (123 respondents) or were still receiving it (177 respondents).

While 95% of the women said they wanted to learn all they could about preventing their cancer from recurring, only 24% of those still receiving hormonal therapy and 40% of those who had completed it had discussed recurrence with their healthcare provider. Fifty-four percent of those in each group didn't know that about a third of women with early breast cancer experience a recurrence.

Source: Society for Women's Health Research. "Life after early breast cancer: Patient perspective on risk." 2005. www.lifeabc.org/risk_perspective_more.html (31 May 2005).