Is A Double Mastectomy The Right Option?

05:20

April 11, 2016

Dr. Mehra Golshan performs a bilateral mastectomy back when COVID-19 was not a consideration. (Courtesy of Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center)

About one in seven American women will face breast cancer at some point in their lives. Then, they face a choice: get just the area of tumor removed, or the whole breast. Some are opting for an even more invasive option - get both breasts removed, even though one is healthy.

New research finds more women are choosing those double mastectomies, even though for most, their odds of survival will not get any better. Carey Goldberg of Here & Now contributor WBUR reports.

Read more via WBUR's CommonHealth

Reporter

Carey Goldberg, co-host of WBUR’s CommonHealth blog. She tweets @commonhealth.

This segment aired on April 11, 2016.