More Cancer Patients Choosing Preventive Mastectomy

Despite research to the contrary, a high number of breast cancer patients who undergo a mastectomy are deciding to remove their healthy breast too. The fact is, less Less than 1 percent of breast cancer survivors have a recurrence of cancer in the unaffected breast.

The procedure is called contralateral prophylactic mastectomy and, according to a new study, preventive mastectomy rates have more than tripled in the last decade, reports Jessica Firger.

While CPM can benefit breast cancer patients with mutations to the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes, for women who do not have a genetic risk for that disease, the surgery is unnecessary, writes Firger.

Read more at Newsweek