Cancer and Your Genes

Christina Applegate Talks About Her Breast Cancer Surgery on Oprah Today

According to the show's website, Christina Applegate will be appearing on Oprah today:

"Christina Applegate opens up about her battle with cancer and her radical decision to remove both breasts.  Then, we all have so many questions.  What should we be doing?"

Apparently, Ms. Applegate will be discussing her breast cancer diagnosis and the genetic testing that apparently led to her decision to pursue bilateral mastectomy recently.

A YouTube preview of the show is located here.

Brewing Turf War Between Breast Surgeons and Plastic Surgeons Over Breast Reconstruction

The Wall Street Journal Health Blog has an interesting story on a brewing turf war between breast surgeons and plastic surgeons over breast reconstruction procedures.

Some women with breast cancer - including some with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations undergoing bilateral mastectomy - decide to have breast reconstruction performed.  This procedure has generally been performed by a plastic surgeon in a separate procedure from the mastectomy itself.  Now, as noted by the WSJ, a growing number of breast surgeons (without plastics training) are learning the breast reconstruction procedures and beginning to offer it at the same time as the mastectomy itself. 

Undoubtedly, this will lead to some turf wars.  If you are shopping around for a breast reconstruction surgeon, the most important question to ask is how many breast reconstruction procedures have they done...