Breast Reconstruction Surgery: Many Women Aren't Aware Of The Complications

Breast reconstruction surgery is an option for women who have had their breasts surgically removed through mastectomy. However, many are unaware of the risks and complications linked to the procedure.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center address the disadvantages linked to the process in their recent study. While statistics show that the number of women choosing breast reconstruction after mastectomy have gone up--with rates rising from 24 percent to 36.4 percent in 2011 early-stage breast cancer patients--one study also found that as many as 47 percent of women surveyed regretted the decision.

"Breast reconstructive surgery can help a breast cancer survivor feel more whole and recover from the surgery," said Clara Lee, MD, a UNC Lineberger member and an associate professor in the UNC School of Medicine Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, in a news release. "It has a great potential benefit, but it has to be considered alongside the disadvantages, including the risks of complications. And so our general conclusion after this study is not that breast reconstruction is good or bad, but that patients don't fully understand it, and we need ways to improve that."

During the study, researchers surveyed 126 breast cancer patients planning to undergo a mastectomy at N.C. Cancer Hospital. They surveyed women who were planning to undergo reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy, as well as women who were not planning to undergo a mastectomy following surgery. They also asked the women about general questions regarding the risks of reconstructive surgery.

Findings revealed that most women only carried a very moderate level of knowledge regarding breast reconstruction, with the average score ranking at 58.5 percent. Some patients completed the survey before seeing a plastic surgeon and some completed it after--somewhat increasing their knowledge, but not at which it was statistically significant, researchers say. 

Furthermore, the findings revealed that only 14.3 percent of women in the survey could answer questions correctly regarding the risk of major consequences from breast reconstruction.

"I really care about making the lives of cancer patients better," Lee said. "I think a critical part of that is helping them to make good choices. And the other motivation for me is that I have a very strong passion for fairness in surgery and in medicine. People who value treatment should get it, and people who don't actually want it, or really are worried about complications for elective procedures, shouldn't have it."

The study is published in JAMA Surgery.

According to the American Cancer Society, though most women can choose their type of breast reconstruction method, some treatment issues are important to consider, such as if a woman needs radiation following her mastectomy; this can damage the reconstructed breast.

In addition, for those who have the procedure, possible complications include infection, pooling of blood (hematoma) within the reconstructed breast, implant rupture and more. For a more extensive list, click here, courtesy of the American Cancer Society.

Related Articles

Breast Cancer: Some Women More Susceptible To Rare Kind

Breast Cancer: Are Ultrasounds As Effective As Mammograms?

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).