Prophylactic Mastectomy: many Women undergo unnecessary double Mastectomies

Fear drives young cancer patients to needless mastectomies

Perceptions, Knowledge, and Satisfaction With Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Among Young Women With Breast Cancer: A Cross-sectional Survey
Many women overestimate their actual risk for cancer in the unaffected breast

A new US study shows that even before Angelina Jolie’s surgery, many women under age 40 who were diagnosed with breast cancer in one breast were having their other breast removed as well, despite the fact that removing the healthy breast does not improve survival rates for most women.

Despite knowing that CPM (contralateral prophylactic mastectomy) does not clearly improve survival, women who have the procedure do so, in part, to extend their lives. Many women overestimate their actual risk for cancer in the unaffected breast.

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Sources: Perceptions, Knowledge, and Satisfaction With Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Among Young Women With Breast Cancer:
A Cross-sectional Survey, American College of Physicians, 17 Sept 2013.

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