Fears of Radiation
Chemotherapy and radiation have become standard treatments for breast cancer but because of their side effects, they are inevitably greeted with a lot of fear and dread by woman who have been diagnosed with the disease. Many woman who choose mastectomy appear to be doing so because it will allow them to avoid the radiation treatments that always accompany the less-radical procedure. Beyond the feelings of fatigue and sickness that follow radiation therapy, just the mention of the word “radiation” has a tendency to strike fear in people’s hearts. Being able to avoid radiation treatments probably brings a feeling of relief to a lot of woman who have been under extreme stress every since they were first diagnosed with breast cancer.
Convenience of Treatment
For most women, cancer treatment represents a significant disruption in their normal, everyday lives. At least with a mastectomy, it is possible to get it over with quickly, wheareas lumpectomies require a woman to return repeatedly to their nearest cancer center for continuing radiation therapy. In many cases, woman may live a considerable distance from medical facilities, and getting there for a series of treatments may be next to impossible.
Reconstructive Breast Surgery
One of the biggest reasons why woman are seemingly more willing to consider mastectomy now is because of the possibility of reconstructive breast surgery. The technology and the medical expertise in this area has improved dramatically over the years, not only with respect to appearance but also in convenience. It is actually possible for women to have reconstructive surgery immediately after a mastectomy is performed, so a woman can leave the hospital after breast surgery without a noticable change in appearance. While a lumpectomy is a less severe procedure than a mastectomy, it does still involve invasive surgery and the removal of a significant amount of breast tissue, which can change the appearance of the breast in a way that many woman do not find pleasing. Of course following bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction, a woman should expect to stay at home for a minimum of six weeks to recover.
Making the Final Decision
Ultimately, the decision of whether to have a mastectomy or a lumpectomy is up to the woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. While the mastectomy may not be a medically necessary choice in every instance, woman who do choose to go this route are obviously not making their decision lightly or easily. All that medical professionals can do is give their patients the most up-to-date information available about treatments and prognosis; any choices that are made after that are highly personal and entirely a matter of individual preference.
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