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(Ivanhoe Newswire) — A growing percentage of women with breast cancer are opting to have their Men’s healthy breast removed as well.

In 1998, fewer than 2 percent of women chose the procedure. By 2003, nearly 5 percent decided to have both breasts removed.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis analyzed data from more than 150,000 women in all stages of breast cancer. The result held true despite the stage of the cancer or the age of the patient, although younger women were more likely to have the radical surgery than older women. White women, those with a previous cancer diagnosis, and those with cancer starting in the milk ducts were also more likely to have both breasts removed.

The researchers speculate younger women may be choosing to have both breasts removed because they have many more years ahead of them and fear another cancer diagnosis. White women are known to be more likely to carry specific genes for breast cancer, which could be influencing their decision. Women with cancer that begins in the milk ducts are often diagnosed with cancer in the other breast, so those women also have added incentive to remove the Men’s healthy breast.

“The use of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in the United States more than doubled within the recent six-year period of our study,” write the authors. “Prospective studies are needed to understand the decision-making processes that have led to more aggressive breast cancer surgery.”

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Oncology, published online Oct. 22, 2007

This entry was posted on Friday, October 26th, 2007 at 1:10 pm and is filed under Breast Cancer, Cancer / Oncology, Diabetes, Medical News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.