Offering breast reconstruction (re-creating breast) at the same time as mastectomy (removal of breast) has been proven to benefit patient quality of life by improving well-being, self-esteem and reducing distress. This research looked at the use of reconstruction in Australia across the decade from 2010 to 2019 through data from the BreastSurgANZ Quality Audit.
The results of the research are summarised below. Reconstruction use is increasing, but there are still differences that can be seen across patient age, location, and public versus private patients, suggesting that there are still barriers to patients receiving reconstruction.
- 21% of women diagnosed in that decade had a reconstruction.
- Use of reconstruction is increasing, from 13% of women in 2010 to 29% in 2019.
- Reconstruction was more likely for younger women than those aged 70 or older.
- Use of reconstruction varied across the states, with reconstruction more likely in densely populated states like Victoria (41%) and New South Wales (33%).
- Reconstructions were more likely to be performed on private patients (61%) compared with public patients (39%).
- In 2019, breast reconstruction was more likely to be performed in major cities (34%) than regional communities and rural towns (12% and 16%).
Reference:
Dayaratna N, Nguyen CL, Spillane A, Mak C, Warrier SK, Dusseldorp JR. Trends and variations in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction rates in Australia over 10 years. ANZ J Surg. 2023 Jan;93(1-2):242-250. doi: 10.1111/ans.18243. Epub 2023 Jan 18. PMID: 36651629.