Surgeon Concerned with Double Mastectomies

A group of surgeons in the Twin Cities noticed an increase in the number of double mastectomies about two years ago, and now they have the statistics to prove it. But the surgeon spearheading the study is concerned some women are having the procedure for the wrong reasons.

Laurel Kiesow's life changed on December 5, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She decided to have a double mastectomy.

"I wanted to do everything in my possible to avoid a reoccurrence," Kiesow said.

It’s cases like Kiesow's that caught the interest of Dr. Todd Tuttle at the University of Minnesota.

A recent study led by Dr. Tuttle looked at women with the earliest form of breast cancer -- ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS

The findings show double mastectomy rates have increased almost 150 percent nationally, despite a 98 to 99 percent survival rate for women who don't have the procedure.

"These patients already have a very, very good survival rate anyway, yet many are opting to have their second breast removed," Dr. Tuttle said.

For many like Kiesow, the decision includes a list of reasons from cosmetic to physiological.

"When you are told you have cancer, it's hard to think, how am I going to look?" Kiesow said. "You just want it gone and never want to think about it again."

Dr. Tuttle says the chance of cancer returning in the opposite breast is only seven percent.

"So if you look at 20 years, maybe about a 15 percent risk of developing cancer in the opposite breast," Dr. Tuttle said.

Even after the study, Dr. Tuttle wonders if physicians are giving patients the appropriate information.

Researchers are also curious about women who have never had cancer, but have a history of breast cancer in their families.

Dr. Tuttle suspects more of these women are having double mastectomies to prevent breast cancer. He hopes to launch another study to find out if this is true.