Large Number of Women in U.K undergo Unnecesary Mastectomy: Study

A large number of women in the United Kingdom undergo unnecessary mastectomy, according to a study.

British researchers analyzed data from a NHS Breast Screening Program that involved more than 8300 women who underwent treatments for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is growth of cancer cells inside the milk ducts of breasts to note frequency of mastectomy or breast removal.

 Researchers found that of the nearly 8000 women diagnosed with DCIS, around 2,500 went for mastectomies and it was found that in nearly 49 percent of them the procedure was not required or was done due to an earlier failure, reports The Almagest. The study notes in nearly 60 percent of the breast removal surgeries, the size of the cancerous tumor was smaller than 20 millimeters in width, which could be treated with lumpectomy.

In DCIS it is difficult to pinpoint the cancer as it does not form a lump and shows up only in mammograms. The experts recommend the decision to treat DCIS cases must be taken only after consultations from radiologists, oncologist, pathologist and surgeons. It has to be a concerted team decision.  

Dr Jeremy Thomas, study author and consultant pathologist at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK, said in a press release, "It would appear from our data that, in some hospitals, the discussions in the multidisciplinary teams are not looking in enough detail at the results from the mammograms and pathology in order to make the right decision about the best surgical treatment for these women."

The researchers believe that a variation in diagnosis leads to the doctors either going in for a full mastectomy for a smaller tumor or completely missing the severity of the disease leading to complications later. It seems the large number of removals arise from the doctors erring on the side of caution.

In some cases many women reportedly considered undergoing mastectomy even though they were recommended lumpectomy.

According to the study reports, nearly 4600 women in the U.K. are diagnosed with DCIC every year and it accounts for 20 percent of the breast cancers.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive of Breast Cancer Campaign said, "These results highlight a variation in practice which needs to be addressed to ensure that all patients who are given a diagnosis of DCIS receive the highest possible standard of care and most appropriate treatment, regardless of the hospital they are in. We look forward to seeing how these results can inform practice to ensure that these variations are no longer an issue," reports the Telegraph.  

The research is presented at the European Breast Cancer Conference in Glasgow.