Women Opting for Double Mastectomies

Filed in archive Breast Cancer on October 23, 2007

On an episode of Grey's Anatomy last year, a woman who had a history of breast cancer in her family, decided to get ahead of the disease and have a double mastectomy. Afterwards, I wondered how a woman could make that hard decision. After all, breasts is one of the characteristics that make a woman. But, according to a new study, it's not a decision woman are dismissing.

The study states that almost 5 percent of of breast cancer surgeries involved women having cancerous and sometimes healthy breasts removed. Like it is a rare choice, young women are more likely to choose the surgery.

The concern is whether they're choosing in the heat of the moment - breast cancer surgery often is within two weeks of diagnosis - or with good understanding of its pros and cons.

"Are these realistic decisions or not?" asks Dr. Todd Tuttle, cancer surgery chief at the University of Minnesota, who led the study after more women sought the option in his own hospital.

"I'm afraid that women believe having their opposite breast removed is somehow going to improve their breast cancer survival. In fact, it probably will not affect their survival," he said.

The initial tumor already may have sent out seeds of spread to key organs, Tuttle explained.

But removing the remaining healthy breast does greatly lower, although not eliminate, chances of a new cancer developing on the opposite side.

Don't underestimate the peace of mind that brings, said Trisha Stotler Meyer of Vienna, Va., who had her breasts removed three weeks ago.

"Doctors are not up at night crying" in fear of their next mammogram, said Meyer, 37, who went back for a double mastectomy after her initial cancer surgery. "I don't want to have to deal with the stress."

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