Increase seen in use of double mastectomy

(The JAMA Network Journals) Among women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in California, the percentage undergoing a double mastectomy increased substantially between 1998 and 2011, although this procedure was not associated with a lower risk of death than breast-conserving surgery plus radiation, according to a study in the Sept. 3 issue of JAMA. The authors did find that surgery for the removal of one breast was associated with a higher risk of death than the other options examined in the study.
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news