According to WTOP, doctors are seeing a recent rise in breast reconstruction surgeries. WTOP explores this in a recent article titled “Doctors see rise in breast reconstruction immediately after mastectomies.”
Paula Wolfson of WTOP writes, “Many factors appear to be in play, including increased awareness of the procedure following Angelina Jolie’s decision to have a preventive mastectomy and reconstruction back in 2013. It doesn’t work for every patient, but studies over the years have shown a big boost to quality of life when patients have breast reconstruction — especially if the reconstruction process is begun while the patient is still in surgery for a mastectomy. It’s the gold standard for patients like Jolie — younger women born with a mutated BRCA gene that sharply increases their risk of breast cancer. When they undergo a preventive mastectomy, there is no cancerous tissue to remove and no follow-up chemotherapy or radiation. ‘They can definitely start their reconstruction immediately,’ says Dr. Gedge David Rosson, director of breast reconstruction and an associate professor at Johns Hopkins.”
ABC Action 6 News also takes a look at breast reconstruction surgeries in a recent article titled “UNDERSTANDING BREAST RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY.” According to the author of the article, “From First Lady Betty Ford’s public announcement of her diagnosis of breast cancer in 1974 to actress Angelina Jolie’s more recent op-ed in the New York Times, there has been a persistent focus on the screening and treatment of breast cancer, and for good reason. Breast cancer remains the most common type of cancer in the United States, with more than 234,000 new cases expected in 2015. About 12% of women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during their lifetime. These statistics are daunting for anyone, and are the primary motivation for the American Cancer Society’s recommendation of obtaining annual mammograms starting at age 40. Over the past forty years, we have made significant advances in the treatment of breast cancer, including specific drugs designed to target breast cancer cells, as well as improved techniques in breast reconstruction. Until recently, it was not uncommon for a woman with breast cancer to undergo surgical removal of all or a part of her breast without being made aware of the options available to surgically restore her breast.”
When it comes to breast reconstruction, you need a surgeon you can trust. Rex E. Moulton Barrett, M.D. is internationally known and acknowledged. He is board certified with The American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and The American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Dr. Moulton-Barrett offers a number of breast reconstruction options, including immediate and delayed reconstruction. For more information, contact us for a consultation.