New Breast Cancer Treatment Available for Women with Implants

Unfortunately, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has reported that one in eight women who undergo breast augmentation develop breast cancer at some point in their lives.  The good news, however, is that women who have implants and have contracted cancer have a better chance of survival and better cosmetic results after radiation therapy.

A new technique, known as brachytherapy, allows for partial-breast radiation treatment.  Instead of overexposing the entire breast, just parts can get higher doses of the chemotherapy in short bursts.  This greatly decreases the need for mastectomies.

Also, this procedure greatly cuts down on the amount of scar tissue that is left after radiation.  The recovery time also drops from 6.5 weeks with whole-breast therapy to only five days.

Breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery in the United States.  Breast cancer is also one of the leading killers of women in the country.  Though more women who have the surgery get cancer, the better chance of survival may outweigh the decision to skip the procedure.  For more information about breast augmentation, contact your plastic surgeon today.