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Too many mastectomies on cancer patients

A study presented to the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in 1998 showed that too many women with early stage breast cancer had their breasts removed even though many of them could have been treated without a mastectomy. Only 44% of women with early stage breast cancer were treated in a way that would save their breasts despite guidelines from the National Cancer Institute that say 75% of these women do not need mastectomies. The study was sponsored by the American College of Radiology and the American College of Surgeons.. Researcher Dr. Monica Morrow of Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago said, "If a woman is told she needs removal she should ask why. By seeking a second opinion...we will see more decreases [in the number of mastectomies] over time." 58 percent of women in the eastern part of the country, were given breast conservation therapy compared to 48 percent in the west and only 33 percent in the south. According to Dr. Morrow, the high rates of breast removal were a result of a poor understanding among doctors of the National Cancer Institute guidelines. "Basically, this salesman, by participating in an operating room procedure, was practicing medicine. What we see here is what we would call a systemic failure. There were lots and lots of checks and balances that failed in that hospital." - Frances Tarlton,spokeswoman for th£ New York Department of Health, explaining that a medical-equipment salesman had participated in surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. The patient, a 30-year old woman, died. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 8, 1998

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