Women needlessly having breast cancer surgery: article re masectomy

[R.B.]

Risk benifit masectomy v BCT (breast conservation strategy)

One viewpoint from Australia... fear and evidence ...

See also other posts on this site looking a overall breast health density ..............(click on search above on purple bar to access search engine)

RB


http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1639050.htm

ABSTRACT

PETER CAVE: A visiting American breast cancer doctor says too many women are needlessly having radical breast surgery, thinking they'll have a better chance of survival.

Dr Monica Morrow, a breast cancer specialist from the Fox Chase Centre in Philadelphia, says survival rates for women who opt to have cancerous lumps removed in conjunction with follow-up radiation have the same life expectancy as those who choose to have a complete mastectomy.

The National Breast Cancer Centre, however, urges caution, saying that while the incidence of mastectomies in rural Australia is higher than in cities, women in the bush face more hurdles.

Sabra Lane reports.

SABRA LANE: One in 11 Australian women will get breast cancer in their lifetime.

According to the most recent statistics on breast cancer, 12,000 women were diagnosed with it in 2001, 2,500 of them died from it.

In Australia, a large portion of early stage breast cancer patients, about 40 per cent of them, still opt to have their breasts removed, instead of just having what's termed "breast conservation", where lumps are cut out in conjunction with follow-up radiotherapy.

Dr Monica Morrow, a specialist breast cancer surgeon from the Fox Chase Cancer Centre in the United States, says a mastectomy for a good portion of these patients is unwarranted.

[mts]

I agree that mastectomies are rampant. HOWEVER, after 2 lumpectomies with mammographically occult tumors...if I had to do it all over again- I would opt for mastectomy ON BOTH SIDES! I know realize that need a breast MRI every year for the rest of my life! I sought several medical opinions and the male onc's ALL said lumpectomies and the female oncs said mastectomy. Go figure.

My life expectancy may be the same with lumpectomy as it would have been if I'd had a mastectomy. But the worrying is HELL! and this affects your QOL.
Maria

[R.B.]

I did not express an opion - I posted that of others.

I suggested that people interested look at all the posts on the site, - for the very reasons you give - essentially none of these issues are clear cut and it is always down to individual circumstances.

A patients viewpoint on QOL, stage in life, aspirations, risks of complications, reoccurence, breast health, breast density, access to MRI, financial status and insurance, distance from treatment centres ..... are all factors for each individual.

I would guess it is very likely that the doctor author Monica Morrow was female.

RB