After more than two decades in which breast-conserving surgery has been the preferred option for women with early breast cancer, a panel led by members of the American Society of Breast Surgeons acknowledged that mastectomy rates are on the rise, according to the Chicago Tribune.
A recent survey conducted by the federal agency for healthcare research and quality said the rate of women undergoing mastectomies increased 36 percent from 2005 to 2013. The rate of double mastectomies roughly tripled, according to the article.
According to the panel, a mastectomy should be "discouraged for an average-risk woman," although a patient's preferences and goals should be taken into consideration.
Judy Boughey, MD, professor of surgery at the Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic and one of the study's authors, notes that there are some advantages to undergoing a mastectomy. Patients with early stages of breast cancer may be able to avoid undergoing radiation therapy. Another advantage is that women may be able to stop having mammograms and other routine tests.