Most Breast Cancer Patients At Peace With Removal Decision

Statistics show that many women with cancer in one breast are now making the decision to also have the other breast removed. Are they regretful about their decision?

The Mayo Clinic surveyed hundreds of women with breast cancer who had double mastectomies between 1960 and 1993. Most said they would make same choice again, according to findings published in the journal Annals of Surgical Oncology.

"I think what this study does is adds some literature to the hands of the people counseling patients to say, ‘Whatever decision you make, you're very likely to be happy with that in the long run, so listen to yourself, and make the decision that's best for you,'" noted lead study author Judy Boughey, M.D., a Mayo breast surgeon, in a news release.

Findings revealed that while most women were satisfied with their decision whether they followed it with breast reconstruction or not, patients who decided against reconstructive surgery were more likely to say they would choose to have both breasts removed again. In the reconstructive surgery group, women who needed additional operations due to complications, breast implant-related issues or other reasons were likelier to regret their prophylactic mastectomy, though overall, most women with breast reconstructions were satisfied with their choices.

For those who skipped reconstruction, some said they felt the same about themselves and their feminity. However, others who participated in reconstructive surgery said they also felt the same about themselves, but some reported higher satisfaction about their appearance, self-esteem and feeling more feminine.

Furthermore, the questionnaire revealed the following, with responses from 583 women, courtesy of the release:

• A decade later, 83 percent were satisfied with their decision to have double mastectomies, and 84 percent said they would make the same choice again. Roughly two-thirds had breast reconstruction, and one-third did not.
• Seventy-three percent said they would make the same decision about whether to have breast reconstruction surgery or not.
• Those who chose plastic surgery to reconstruct their breasts tended to be married and younger. Their mean age was 47, compared to 53 for those who did not have the plastic surgery. Eighty-five percent of those who chose breast reconstruction were married, compared to 78 percent who did not have reconstructive surgery.
• Thirty-nine percent of those who had reconstruction needed an unplanned reoperation, and those with reoperations were likelier to regret the decision to have a double mastectomy. The follow-up surgeries were needed for a variety of reasons, including post-mastectomy complications and implant-related issues.