More women choosing to have non-cancerous breast removed

By Eileen McGaurin

Women diagnosed with breast cancer are increasingly opting for prophylactic mastectomy, removal of a non-cancerous breast, even though the evidence that it prevents recurrence of cancer is slim, according to a study in the journal Cancer.

While prophylactic mastectomy is one way to reduce development of breast cancer, there is little information available that it prevents breast cancer or that it prevents tumors in the healthy breast, stated Dr. Stephen B. Edge, lead author, in a press release.

After examining statistics of breast cancer patients in New York State between 1995 and 2005, scientists found that the number of prophylactic, or preventative mastectomies more than doubled.

"These data demonstrate that prophylactic mastectomy is an uncommon procedure that is performed most commonly on women with a personal history of breast cancer," said Dr. Edge. "Although the total number of prophylactic mastectomies performed was small, it appears that the use of the surgery is increasing."

During the 11-year study, Edge and colleagues identified 6,275 women who underwent the surgery. Eighty-one percent of the women had been diagnosed with cancer in one breast, while 19 percent had no personal history of breast cancer.

A 1999 Mayo clinic study found, however, that there is a dramatic benefit for preventative mastectomies in women with a high risk for developing breast cancer.

For the study, scientists looked at 639 women between 1960 and 1993 who had opted for prophylactic mastectomies. Of those, 214 were considered high risk for development of the disease and 425 were considered at moderate risk.

While 38.7 percent of the high-risk patients who elected for the surgery were expected to get breast cancer, only 1.4 percent actually developed the disease.

The study concluded that in women with a high-risk profile, prophylactic mastectomy reduced the risk of breast cancer by "at least 90 percent," according to the study.

Women considered to be in the high-risk group include those who have already had breast cancer in one breast and those who have a strong family history of the disease, meaning one or more family member who developed the disease especially before the age of 50.

Genetic testing indicating mutations in genes can also be a factor, as well as indications of early signs of breast cancer, such as abnormal cells in the milk glands.