Most double mastectomies performed to prevent cancer spread are unnecessary

As much as 70 percent of women who undergo the procedure are at low risk for developing cancer in their healthy breast.

Up to 70 percent of women who undergo a double mastectomy when only one breast is afflicted with cancerous cells are doing so unnecessarily. A study published on May 21 in JAMA Surgery found that the precautions taken by women that prompt them to undergo this procedure, known as contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, are often taken despite a very low risk of cancer developing in the tissue of the other breast.

Research indicates that this trend is becoming more prevalent. From 1998 to 2008, the occurrence of contralateral prophylactic mastectomies has risen from 39 per 1,000 to 207 per 1,000 mastectomies performed.

The study, which came out of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, had 1,447 women with non recurrent breast cancer diagnoses fill out surveys indicating their treatment preferences and experiences. They found that roughly 75 percent were afraid of cancer invading their other breast, 18 percent considered contralateral prophylactic mastectomies and 8 percent underwent the procedure. Women were more likely to have opted for the surgery if they were well educated and had MRI scans during their treatment.

It is estimated that only 10 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer will have it spread to the healthy tissue in the other breast. Those who test positive for the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes commonly associated with elevated risk of breast cancer development undergo the surgery. These cases make up about 10 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses, though.

Included in the reasons for the rising trend in double mastectomies is the fact that reconstructive surgery is performed at the same time as the mastectomy and since the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act passed in 1998, insurance companies are required to cover the costs of the reconstructive surgery.

There are complications involved in the surgery. They include loss of sensation in the breast and skin, lowered sex drive and chronic pain. Experts assert that more education is needed for women considering this option when facing a breast cancer diagnosis.