Women who have breast cancer have a lot of things to worry about. First and foremost, they worry about the cancer itself and the steps necessary to beat the cancer. Often, they worry about finances as their money goes to taking care of medical expenses. But one of the biggest worries frequently goes undiscussed: concern over the appearance of breasts that are lost (in full or part) to the cancer.
It's surprising that this issue still remains a quiet issue amongst the general public. But what is even more surprising is that it stays off the table in many doctors' offices as well. A recent study has found that two-thirds of women facing surgery for breast cancer do not discuss breast reconstruction with their doctors prior to the surgery. It is possible that women themselves are hesitant to bring it up or it may be that they are concerned primarily about their health at this time. However, it's shocking that the doctors are not making this more of an issue since it is a big area of concern for most women.
It appears that women who are younger and women who are more educated are more likely to discuss this issue with their doctors. This indicates that raising awareness of the issue is a primary concern in changing these numbers. Perhaps as additional advancements are made in the area of breast reconstruction, we will see information spreading more openly.
Question of the Day: Of the women you've known with breast cancer, how many have had reconstructive surgery?
