Perception of breast cancer and breast reconstruction in medical school students

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the world and in Brazil, after non-melanoma skin cancer. Our objective was to evaluate the medical students' perception of breast cancer and breast reconstruction. Methods: This is a cross-sectional pilot study composed of students from the fifth and sixth year of medical school, in May 2016. Results: We questioned whether there is a possibility of breast reconstruction after mastectomy, and the response was unanimous (100%). For a better characterization, we asked if the reconstruction could be done at the same time as the mastectomy, and 69 (57.5%) students said yes and 51 (42.5%) denied. In the analysis of surgical knowledge, we asked whether they knew any breast reconstruction technique, and 49 (40.83%) answered yes and 71 (59.16%) denied knowing. With regard to referral to a medical specialist who was better prepared to follow and perform breast reconstruction, 93 (77.5%) students chose plastic surgery and 26 (21.66%) chose mastology. Regarding the possibility of breast reconstruction in patients who need to undergo adjuvant radiotherapy, 66 (55%) answered yes, 51 (42.5%) did not answer, and three (2.5%) did not know how to respond. Regarding this possibility in patients with silicone implants, 59 (49.16%) answered yes, three (2.5%) answered no, and 58 (48.33%) said they did not know about the subject. Conclusion: We conclude that mastology has been gaining immense interest in the field of breast reconstruction, including in the academic world, based on the high percentage of respondents who stated that they are better prepared for this procedure than for plastic surgery for breast reconstruction