International rates of breast reconstruction after prophylactic mastectomy in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.

BACKGROUND

Breast reconstruction is an option for women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations who elect to undergo prophylactic mastectomy to prevent breast cancer. We report on the uptake of breast reconstruction after prophylactic mastectomy in women with BRCA mutations from eight countries.

METHODS

Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation were questioned regarding their cancer preventive practices. Information was recorded on prophylactic mastectomy and breast reconstruction.

RESULTS

A total of 1,635 women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation who elected to undergo prophylactic mastectomy from eight countries were included. A total of 1,137 women (69.5%) had breast reconstruction after prophylactic mastectomy. A total of 58.7% of women over the age of 45 years at the time of prophylactic mastectomy had breast reconstruction compared to 77.6% of women 35 years of age or younger [odds ratio (OR) 0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26-0.50, p < 0.001]. In addition, 62.9% of women with a breast cancer diagnosis (contralateral prophylactic mastectomy) had breast reconstruction after prophylactic mastectomy compared to 79.7% of women without a previous breast cancer diagnosis (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.38-0.61, p < 0.001). A total of 66.9% of women from Canada had breast reconstruction after mastectomy compared to 71.9% of American women (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.59-0.96, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of women elect for breast reconstruction after prophylactic mastectomy. However, younger women and those without a previous diagnosis of breast cancer are more likely to have breast reconstruction than older women or those with a previous diagnosis of cancer.