ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S5689

RTT - Patient experience and quality of life

ESTRO 2024

1972

Digital Poster

Needs and demands for information on chemical contaminants in women breast cancer survivors.

José Expósito-Hernández 1,2,3 , Laura García-Molina 4 , Piedad Martín-Olmedo 4,2 , Juan Pedro Arrebola, 5,6 , Rosario Ching-López 1 , Marina Zenobia Molina-Fernández 1 , Olga Liñan 1 1 H U Virgen Nieves, Radiation Oncology, Granada, Spain. 2 Institute Bio Sanitary (Ibs), Oncology, Granada, Spain. 3 Granada University, Radiology, Granada, Spain. 4 EASP, Public Health, Granada, Spain. 5 Granada UniversityU, Public Health, Granada, Spain. 6 CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Public Health, Granada, Spain

Purpose/Objective:

Background: Breast cancer incidence has increased in the last few years, but so have the 5-year relative survival rate for women. Breast cancer is the most frequently detected type of cancer in women, accounting for 28.9% of all cancers diagnosed in this population, with an upward trend incidence as reported by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM). In Andalusia (Spain), 43.584 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in 2020, with an incidence of 5,209 new cases of breast cancer among women. Among the suggested risk factors contributing to the onset of this disease is the inadvertent and continuous exposure to environmental chemical pollutants, that are ubiquitously present in food, drinking water, as well as in hygiene and cleaning products, and may increase the cancer risk by different mechanisms. These pollutants include persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as organochlorine pesticides and perfluoroalkyl substances, heavy metals (e.g., Cd) or emerging popullants (bisphenol A). Purpose/Objective: this pilot study aims to identify the perception and information demands regarding exposure to environmental chemical pollutants of female breast cancer survivors in Granada, as well as characterise possible changes in eating consumption habits and lifestyles after the patients' diagnosis. The ultimate goal is preparing adjusted guidance documents useful for health professionals and women in preventing future exposure to xenostrogens substances present in daily life products (e.g. food, cosmetic, cleaning products). In this mixed-methods research, participants were recruited according to the following inclusion criteria: female breast cancer survivors attending for follow-up care to the Radiation Oncology Unit of the “Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves” (HUVN) in Granada (Spain) for at least one year after treatment. No distinction was made among those covered by the National Health System insurance, or by private mutual insurance companies. The proposed time limitation responds to the toxicity of the treatment itself, and the mental stress of patients that possibly could have diminished their disposition to think about past exposure to risk factors and the future in a period shorter than one year. The selection of study participants was carried out by the staff of the Radiation Oncology Unit of HUVN, based on the appointments schedule of the monitoring and follow-up care program of breast cancer survivors between January and October 2023. All subjects signed their informed consent to participation in the study, which was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital. Trained interviewers conducted face-to-face interviews during patients’ visit to the hospital, just after the oncology follow-up revision. Quantitative information was recorded related to sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, dietary habits, and obstetric information. Open-ended questions were recorded during the session, with prior consent of the participant. These sessions lasted between 20 and 40 minutes. The main topic was about whether they had been informed about chemical pollutants, cosmetics, deodorants, food, etc., throughout their breast Material/Methods: