by KYW’s Lynne Adkins
A local plastic surgeon says more women need to hear about breast reconstruction when they find out they have breast cancer.
Two thirds of women diagnosed with breast cancer aren't told about breast reconstruction while they are being told about treatment options, that's according to a 2008 study. Dr. Sameer Patel, a plastic surgeon at Fox Chase Cancer Center, says that needs to change:
“From a psychological standpoint even, women who choose to have immediate reconstruction are much happier than women who do not get reconstruction or choose to delay the reconstruction in addition the aesthetic results are often much better when reconstruction is performed at the immediate setting, meaning at the time of the mastectomy.”
He says often, doctors are focusing on the diagnoses and treatment and fail to discuss reconstruction, so more information is needed for both patients and physicians.
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