The Breast: Premalignant Organ or Functional Gland?

Abstract

Increasingly, young women are undergoing bilateral mastectomies before the completion of childbearing. This procedure, when performed prematurely, precludes any future lactation. However, not breastfeeding increases maternal and child morbidity and mortality, and carries an overall U.S. financial cost of $18.5 billion per year. The emotional and physical consequences of bilateral mastectomy in this patient population should be more carefully considered, and any prophylactic surgery deferred until childbearing has been completed.

Keywords: breast cancer; breastfeeding; mastectomy; surgery.