As we all know, breast cancer is considered to be one of the most common causes of mortality in women today. And many women in their early stage of breast cancer choose local therapy, usually mastectomy plus reconstruction. But, according to new information introduced in the Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio, certain therapies have higher costs and overall burden on women.
Researchers explained this therapy is considered to have the highest rate of complications and complication-related cost for both young women and women who have private insurance, such as Medicare. For younger women, this is the most expensive therapy choice out of the several options available. After the removal of the breast(s) and reconstruction (without radiation), there are other procedures to go through like, lumpectomy plus whole breast irradiation (WBI), lumpectomy plus brachytherapy, mastectomy without reconstruction or radiation, and lumpectomy without radiation.
Lead study author Dr. Benjamin D. Smith, associate professor and research director of the breast radiation oncology section at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston released a statement saying that though there is an implication what treatment is best for a particular patient, there is a large number of patients, who mostly, not all considers these treatment guideline-appropriate.
He also said that there is no framework to help patients understand what it undergoing a mastectomy and reconstruction feels like compared to, example, lumpectomy and WBI. We don't really know how to fully make them understand the side effects and the cost to both the patient and their insurance company.
"To me, it seemed like a black box," he said. "Mastectomy and reconstruction rates have been increasing in the United States in the past decade, and I think ours is the first study to quantify the harm associated with choosing this procedure as opposed to simpler options." He continued.
The research examined the data from the MarketScan database involving younger women with private insurance, as well as the SEER-Medicare database, including older women with Medicare from 2000 until 2011. They found that both younger and older women diagnosed with early stages of breast cancer, had no concern prior to diagnosis and were completely insured from 12 months up to 2 years after diagnosis.
