A majority of young women diagnosed with breast cancer opt to have a mastectomy rather than a more modest, but in many cases equally effective, procedure that spares much of the breast, according to new research to be presented Monday.
The study, to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting in Chicago, found that 62 percent of women with breast cancer under age 40 chose to have their breasts removed despite previous research showing that women who have more targeted procedures coupled with radiation have similar survival rates.
The study is likely to fuel concerns that women are increasingly undergoing medically unnecessary mastectomies. The issue gained renewed attention recently after actress Angelina Jolie disclosed that she underwent a double mastectomy as a preventative measure against cancer.
Jolie, 37, carries a gene that predisposes her to an aggressive form of breast cancer. Her disclosure was widely praised for highlighting the difficult choices faced by women at risk for the disease. But it also renewed fears that women might choose a more radical approach to dealing with that risk when less invasive methods are available and provide similar results.
The new study, jointly penned by researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Harvard School of Public Health, examined 277 women who had been diagnosed with Stage 1, 2 or 3 breast cancer. It centered on women who were given a choice between a mastectomy and a lumpectomy, the targeted removal of cancerous tissue and some healthy tissue around it. It excluded women with conditions requiring the breasts to be removed.
The study did not closely scrutinize the reasons for the women’s choices. Shoshana Rosenberg, the lead researcher, said the findings highlighted the need to study whether outsize anxiety about recurrence or death plays a part and whether women are getting adequate information.
“We’re not saying this is a good or bad decision,” Rosenberg said. “We want to make sure that women are making informed decisions and that they themselves weigh the risks and benefits. For some women, mastectomy may be the right decision.”
According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which funds breast cancer research and partially funded the study, the procedures have equal survival rates and incidences of the cancer spreading to other organs. However, women who undergo lumpectomies have a slightly higher rate of the cancer returning to the breast.
The main benefits of a mastectomy over a lumpectomy is that radiation therapy may not be needed and that the procedure may offer greater peace of mind, according to Komen. Lumpectomies are always coupled with radiation, but the advantages are that more of the original shape and tissue of the breast are preserved, and it is a less invasive procedure. A mastectomy typically requires an overnight hospital stay and a longer recovery.
Study: Mastectomies on rise among young
Study: Mastectomies on rise among young
Where We Are Going Today: Under 500
- Both their soups, the lentil and the roasted tomato, are wonderful; I’ve been enjoying pairing either one with a main (a combo special Under 500 offers)
A place for all the gym rats and diet fiends, Under 500 offers fairly tasty meals complete with nutritious goodies, all of which are, well, under 500 calories.
I’ve quickly grown fond of this cloud kitchen — I won’t tell you it is the most delicious food you’ll ever have, but would absolutely recommend it if you want good meals that will leave you feeling energized and satisfied.
They have a wide selection of options; pasta, sandwiches, salads, bowls, rice meals, soups and some breakfast options.
First things first; all of their food smells amazing. They definitely load it up with spices to kick up the flavor since they are being conscious about what to put in it.
Both their soups, the lentil and the roasted tomato, are wonderful; I’ve been enjoying pairing either one with a main (a combo special Under 500 offers). The lentil, though it may need an extra pinch of salt and pepper, gives you a little taste of home while the roasted tomato is creamy and packed with Italian flavors.
They also add fresh kale to the lentil soup, an unusual choice I was a little iffy about but have grown to enjoy for its texture.
Another favorite is the grilled chicken burger, topped with a chipotle mayo, tomato salsa, guacamole and sauteed mushrooms in a multi-cereal bun. Be warned that it is a little messy, but very tasty.
Also recommended is their cheesesteak sandwich, made with tenderloin beef strips and topped with grilled onions, sauteed mushrooms, mixed peppers and mild cheddar cheese in a whole wheat baguette; perfectly good and enjoyable.
Their chicken quesadilla is also not a bad choice for a light meal — a little thinner than I would like maybe and I wish the salsa was spicier, but I did enjoy the flavors of this dish.
Now their hot meals; while yet to try their pasta, I have become well acquainted with the rice dishes.
The kabsa, chicken tikka biryani and their famous butter chicken are all solid picks. For me, the best out of the three is the butter chicken, which comes with a small side salad made up of cucumbers, tomato and pomegranate seeds (again, unusual choice but I don’t mind it).
A meal I would not order again is the chicken mushroom with mashed potatoes — the chicken and sweetcorn mash were good and so were the steamed vegetables on the side, but the mushroom sauce was not the right taste at all — much too tangy and no true mushroom flavor.
I have been recommended the steak and eggs and the honey mustard salmon bowl, and have to say the salmon quinoa looks very interesting with the grilled vegetables on the side; all of which I look forward to trying.
Overall, will Under 500 blow your mind? No. Will you find yourself reordering from it because of its reliability, decent cost, health factor and pretty good flavors? Yes, so try it out.
