Columbia, MD, July 28, 2016--The American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) this week issued a position statement recommending against contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) for average risk women with unilateral breast cancer. The ASBrS statement published as a pair of manuscripts in the Annals of Surgical Oncology addresses the growing trend to remove the healthy breast in women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer. The statement follows extensive research and was crafted by a panel of ASBrS experts with the approval of the organization’s membership.

In the position statement, ASBrS encourages an evidence-based approach to determine the value of CPM in breast cancer patients. Research reveals that the majority of women with breast cancer obtain no oncological benefit from removal of a healthy breast, although it is appropriate for certain high risk groups.

“Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy is a growing trend that has generated significant discussion among physicians, patients, breast cancer advocates and media,” comments Judy C. Boughey, MD, FACS, professor of surgery at Mayo Clinic, 2016 ASBrS annual meeting program chair and publications chair and lead author of the position statement. “This consensus statement examines and summarizes the data, offers guidelines about appropriateness of prophylactic surgery and provides a framework for patient discussion. When discussing CPM with patients it is important for patients to understand it does not improve their cancer outcome and for them to understand the pros, cons and alternatives to CPM.”

“Typically the decision to perform a contralateral procedure is based on a combination of the patient’s perceived risk and fear of future breast cancer, anxiety about annual screening and possible additional diagnostic procedures, as well as the uncertainty of physical, emotional and cosmetic surgical outcomes,” says Julie A. Margenthaler, MD, FACS, professor, division of general surgery at Washington University School of Medicine, chair of ASBrS communications committee and senior author of the position paper.

“The Society believes that a final treatment plan should be based largely on an analysis of the risks and benefits of contralateral mastectomy and the patient’s perspective on surgery,” she adds. “Patient education on those risks and benefits, all treatment options and recurrence risks are crucial. A well-planned patient-surgeon discussion to facilitate this is extremely important.”

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