According to a recent issue of The American Surgeon, a new study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center determined that breast reconstruction after mastectomy is safe for older women.
“The removal of a breast has implications for the psychological, social and sexual well-being of the patient, establishing the need that reconstruction should be offered,” said Marissa Howard-McNatt, MD, assistant professor of surgery at Wake Forest Baptist. “However, little is known about rates of reconstruction in elderly women after breast cancer.”
The data from patients treated at Wake Forest Baptist over a 10-year period was reviewed by Howard-McNatt and colleagues. Included were 89 women older than 60 years who had undergone mastectomy and reconstruction.
According to lead author Howard-McNatt, the study determined that breast reconstruction is safe, feasible, and well tolerated for these patients. However, women of advanced age are not as likely to choose this option. “Generally, breast cancer in the elderly is less aggressive than in younger patients. Life expectancy can still be substantial – 16 years for a 70-year-old and greater than six years for an otherwise healthy 80-year-old.”
Comorbid conditions may restrict women’s choices after a mastectomy, Howard-McNatt cautions. When treating women of advanced age, it is important to understand the biology of the disease and the influence comorbidities have on survival, she said.
As women’s overall health continues to improve and the population ages, the number of women older than 65 is expected to nearly double by the year 2050. “More patients are candidates for aggressive breast cancer therapy,” Howard-McNatt said. “The safety of reconstruction, as well as increased life expectancy and healthier lifestyles, makes breast reconstruction desirable at any age.”
Source: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
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