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Oct 7, 2009 6:53 pm US/Central
Study: Cancer Patients Removing Healthy Breast Too
(WCCO)
A new study by the Masonic Cancer Center shows a lot of local breast cancer patients are not only removing cancerous breasts but they are also choosing to get rid of healthy breasts as well.
Scientists took data from six Fairview Hospitals. The study involved 571 patients who had breast cancer surgery between 2006 through 2007.
Of those patients, 290 had breast removal surgery. Researchers say it's a startling trend because they found removing a healthy breast didn't lessen the chances of getting breast cancer.
"I found out in late July that I had breast cancer," said Sara Tarnowski.
She said it was a personal choice but she didn't think twice about removing the healthy breast.
"I have two young children. It was kind of a no-brainer for me. There wasn't any hesitation on my part. I had a history of having to have return mammograms and rescreening and biopsies, and I just was like 'I'm done with this,'" said Tarnowski.
Typically women who choose to remove the healthy breast tended to be younger, have larger tumors and a family history of the disease. Many of these women also had female surgeons.
"About 25 percent of women choose to have a double mastectomy even though the cancer was only in one breast," said Dr. Todd Tuttle, cancer surgeon and researcher at the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Center and Medical School.
However, doctors say doing this doesn't lessen your chances of the cancer coming back.
"There's no evidence that removing your normal breast that doesn't have cancer is going to improve your survival," said Tuttle.
But Tarnowski didn't want to take a chance.
"No one can guarantee that it won't reoccur and you still have to go through all the mammograms, you still have to go through the stress, the waiting, the possibility," she said.
Doctors also say even though there is medicine like Tamoxifen that reduce the rate of getting cancer in healthy breast, many women are still electing to get rid of the healthy breast.
"I feel normal. I just think it's easier for me to feel whole and to put that behind me and to move on," said Tarnowski.
Tuttle also said there are risks to removing a non cancerous breast unnecessarily -- the operation is longer -- and the recovery time is about two to three weeks.
Sonya Goins, Producer Contact Sonya
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