Women who took more control over choosing their breast cancer surgeon were more likely to be treated by more experienced breast surgeons and at a hospital affiliated with an accredited cancer program, compared to women who were referred by another doctor or their health plan, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The study looked at 1,844 women recently diagnosed with breast cancer in the Detroit and Los Angeles metropolitan areas. Information was collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Registry, a database maintained by the National Cancer Institute that collects information about cancer incidence, treatment and mortality. Results of the study appear in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The women were surveyed about how the breast surgeon was selected, with choices such as "I was referred by another doctor," "I chose this surgeon because of his or her reputation" or "I wanted a surgeon who practiced near my home." Based on the answers, patients were categorized as being referred to their surgeon or selecting their surgeon based on reputation or proximity.

Nearly two-thirds of the patients said they were referred to their surgeon by another doctor, with another 15 percent referred by their health plan. About a quarter chose their surgeon based on reputation. Women with more education and higher incomes were more likely to report selecting their surgeon based on reputation.