Helping older women with low-risk breast cancer make treatment decisions
Official title: A Cluster Randomized Trial of a Breast Cancer Treatment Decision Aid for Women 70+ with Low-Risk Stage I Breast Cancers
Funded at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-11047201 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a helpful tool for women aged 70 and older with low-risk Stage I breast cancer to make better decisions about their treatment options, so they can understand what’s best for them without unnecessary procedures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $811,443 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG084563-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11047201 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women aged 70 and older who have been diagnosed with low-risk Stage I estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced breast cancer or those who are not eligible for breast-conserving surgery may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a decision aid to assist women aged 70 and older who have been diagnosed with low-risk Stage I breast cancer. The aim is to improve shared decision-making between patients and healthcare providers by providing clear information about treatment options and their potential benefits and harms. The study will evaluate how this decision aid influences treatment choices, particularly regarding the omission of unnecessary procedures like radiotherapy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. By empowering patients with knowledge, the research seeks to enhance the quality of treatment decisions made by older women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more informed treatment choices for older women, potentially reducing unnecessary procedures and improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that decision aids can effectively improve patient engagement and decision quality in various medical contexts, suggesting a promising approach for this population.
Where this research is happening
-
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schonberg, Mara a — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Schonberg, Mara a
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.