Citation

Brinton LA. Breast cancer research: BCR 2005; 7(2): 61-63.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005)

DOI

10.1186/bcr1003

PMID

15743512

PMCID

PMC1064123

Abstract

In a large study, published in this issue of Breast Cancer Research, Le and colleagues report that women receiving implants after mastectomies for early-stage breast cancer experience lower breast cancer mortality than women not receiving implants. Assessment of survival patterns among women receiving reconstructive implants is complex given unique patient characteristics, disease attributes, and treatment patterns. The interpretation of reduced mortality from breast cancer must be assessed in light of significantly reduced risks of death from most other causes. In contrast, patients receiving post-mastectomy implants had elevated rates of suicide, consistent with findings among women with cosmetic implants. Additional well-designed investigations are needed to clarify survival patterns among women receiving reconstructive implants.

Language: en

Keywords

Breast Implantation; Breast Neoplasms; Cause of Death; Female; Humans; Mastectomy; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Prognosis; Reproducibility of Results; Sample Size; Suicide; Survival Analysis