Rochester, Minn. — A new study suggests that the vast majority of breast cancer survivors who chose to undergo a precautionary double mastectomy have no regret about their decision, HealthDay News reports.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic questioned women who years ago decided to sacrifice a healthy breast in hopes of avoiding another cancer. Twenty years after their surgery, 97 percent said they would make the same decision again.
The study involved women who had had both a cancerous and healthy breast removed between 1960 and 1993. They were asked 10 years later if they were satisfied with their choice. They were also asked if they would make the same decision again. After another 10 years, the majority were surveyed again. Complete results were available for 269 women.
In the initial survey, 86 percent said they were satisfied with their decision and 95 percent said they would repeat the procedure. In the 20-year follow-up, 90 percent expressed satisfaction with their decision and 97 percent said they would repeat it.
However, about 30 percent in both time periods said they had suffered from negative body image.
Previous research has found that women who had undergone prophylactic double mastectomy were satisfied with their decision soon after the surgery. This study suggests that that satisfaction is not temporary.
