Some Things to Consider About Breast Reconstruction After Cancer Surgery

In 1998, then President Bill Clinton breast reconstruction signed into the law the Women's Health insurance and Cancer Reconstruction Act (WHCRA). The intention of this bill was to ensure than patients who underwent mastectomy for the treating of breast cancer can get access to reconstruction through their insurance plans.



Previously, many insurances did not cover reconstruction after breast cancer surgery because it was considered 'cosmetic' surgery. Many patients thought this as well, and as a result, avoided undergoing reconstruction. As of 2012 the National Cancer Institute reports that only about 20% of breast cancer patients receive reconstruction, even though the law was supposed to rectify that situation.



Why is that? The causes are complex, and involve a mix of things.



When a patient is clinically determined to have breast cancers, it is usually stressful and emotional, as anyone might expect, and often the foremost concern is getting rid of the cancer-not the way they will appear afterwards, that i understand. Therapy for cancer dominates the practical method of cancer, and rightly so. Without a cure, there is absolutely no reconstruction.



Reconstruction is generally regarded as a 'secondary' procedure and not part of the 'primary' aim of treatment, which is, of course, curing the cancer, as a result. So, even in spite of a government mandate that provides insurance coverage for the process of breast reconstruction, this is apparently not enough to influence the practical approach both doctors and patients.



Having Said That I argue, having performed many breast reconstructions, that part of the cure also entails building a patient feel whole again, and for many women (while not all) this entails reconstruction, or at best the opportunity to pursue it, in that case desired.



A 20% reconstruction rate suggests that breast reconstruction after cancer surgery is not always given the place it really deserves in the treatment of cancer because it is still consideredsecondary and optional, or not that critical to consider initially.



Often breast cancer reconstruction involves as heavy commitment of time, and often multiple surgeries to achieve its results,. That's but to be fair, there are also other considerations as well, which are important, the most important being. This may not be all of that popular with anyone who has gone through the stress and worry of cancer surgery followed by a training course of chemotherapy and radiation, that is understandable. After all, who wants to proceed through a time consuming and stressful process soon after they may have been through a period consuming and stressful process?



And finally, there is, whether people like to admit or not, a sense that breast reconstruction is type of a 'vain' undertaking. Beating cancer takes courage, and a part of courage is humility and thankfulness, which seem at odd with seeking to make yourself look better.



It is a real phenomena which I have observed personally in my practice, though i don't agree with this perception. Consider it for a moment. Imagine you happen to be young woman, and maybe you have children, and you will have just survived and fought through breast cancers. Your perspective on what is really important may change as a result of the experience you just had, and now, the investment of time and effort that is necessary to have a reconstructed breast in order to make yourself feel and look better may not be as important to you as spending time with your loved ones. If you are an older woman, you may think something along the lines of, likewise: what can I would like a breast later in my life?



But undergoing reconstruction from the breast after cancer surgery is not a vain or self-centered pursuit at all. So are feeling confident, whole, and strong, which breast cancer reconstruction can help provide for many patients, even though once again, beating cancer takes great courage, and indeed, thankfulness and humility are integral parts of courage.



That being said, ultimately what is most important is actually a patient's wishes, and yes, sometimes delaying or forgoing breast cancer reconstruction altogether is the greatest step that can be taken for some of the reasons which i have earlier mentioned (ie stress, family, time commitment, etc.)



Still, a 20% rate of breast reconstruction is awfully low, and it suggests something more to me than people don't want breast cancer reconstruction because they are too tired after cancer treatment or think that the process is somewhat vain. It suggests a lack of information, and it is an important reason why I believe that even if you have no intention of every undergoing breast reconstruction, you should talk the time to inform and educate yourself about the option in detail through a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon.