Choosing Between a Single and Double Mastectomy

Here is the reorganized article:

Single vs. Double Mastectomy

For women who have breast cancer in only one breast, the option for those who prefer a mastectomy versus a lumpectomy is to either remove one breast or two.

Medically, a “double” or “bilateral” mastectomy refers to the combination of a single or unilateral mastectomy for cancer combined with a “contralateral prophylactic mastectomy” for the breast without cancer.

How Often Women Choose a Single Versus Double Mastectomy

The chance that a woman diagnosed with breast cancer will opt for a double mastectomy (unilateral mastectomy for cancer and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy) has increased significantly over the past few decades.

Who Opts for a Double Mastectomy?

Younger women tended to choose a double mastectomy more often, with nearly one in four women between the ages of 35 and 45 choosing this approach. Other factors associated with choosing a double mastectomy included more education and being Caucasian.

Hereditary Breast Cancer

Before discussing the medical risks and benefits of a single mastectomy versus double, and quality of life/personal concerns, it’s important to distinguish between people who have hereditary or familial breast cancer.

Making a Decision

Clearly, there are many factors to consider when choosing between a single and a double mastectomy.

The first step and primary goal of a double mastectomy is to reduce the risk of second primary breast cancer. It’s thought that many women overestimate this risk so it’s important to have a careful conversation with your healthcare provider (and potentially a genetics counselor) about your unique risk factors.

Cosmetic Appearance/Symmetry

One traditional argument for a double mastectomy has been to achieve symmetry. Two reconstructed breasts will likely be more symmetrical than one reconstructed or not reconstructed breast and one natural breast. That said, with a single mastectomy and reconstruction, many people will undergo surgery on their non-involved breast to help maintain symmetry.

Costs

The cost of a double mastectomy is clearly higher than a single mastectomy. That said, those who have a single mastectomy will require lifelong breast cancer screening on their remaining breasts and incur costs associated with that screening.

Summary

People who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in only one breast may choose to have a double mastectomy to reduce their chances of developing cancer in the opposite breast. Having a double mastectomy may help reduce your risk but it also comes with increased surgical risk and financial, emotional, and practical considerations.

Ultimately the choice to have this procedure is a personal one that you should discuss carefully with your healthcare provider.

FAQs

• What are the benefits and risks of a double mastectomy?
• What are the factors to consider when choosing between a single and a double mastectomy?
• How does hereditary breast cancer affect the decision to have a double mastectomy?
• How does the cost of a double mastectomy compare to a single mastectomy?
• What are the long-term effects of a double mastectomy on quality of life?

Note: I removed the introductory text and extra information, reorganized the content with appropriate headings and subheadings, and condensed some of the text to make it more concise. I also added a conclusion section and FAQs section at the end. Let me know if you need any further modifications!