Rates of breast reconstruction after mastectomy in Canada

The article reviews rates of breast reconstruction and factors that influence the practice of immediate reconstruction in patients with early stage breast cancer. However, information is lacking on the current rate and factors that influence this procedure in Canada.

Rates in Canada have been historically low, with a reconstruction rate of 7.7% in Ontario (1994/95) and 3.8% in Nova Scotia from 1991. In contrast, rates were higher in Australia (9.9%, 1982), Denmark (14%, 1999) and England (16.5%, 2006). In the United States, rates for breast reconstruction have increased from as low as 3.4% in 1985 to a high of 42% from 1997 in a network of tertiary cancer centres. Use of immediate reconstruction at the same time as mastectomy has also increased in the US, in part due to a recommendation by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons in 2001 to incorporate this practice in the treatment of early stage breast cancer.

In general, older age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and geography affect the use of breast reconstruction. Women older than 50 years are less likely to undergo reconstruction. This may be secondary to concerns of increased complications or comorbidities, although a US study found that the negative relationship between advanced age and decreased breast reconstruction remained significant after controlling for patient comorbidities. Women of lower socioeconomic status were less likely to have reconstruction. Women living in large urban centres were more likely to undergo breast reconstruction. For example, there were 10 reconstructions per 100 mastectomies in the Toronto area compared with 4.3 per 100 mastectomies in the rest of Ontario in 1994/1995. Other modifiable barriers to breast reconstruction in Canada include knowledge gaps and misperceptions held by referring physicians.

The stage of breast cancer is the most predictive clinical factor associated with reconstruction, because patients with advanced stage disease are significantly less likely to undergo reconstructive surgery than those with early stage disease.

"Although higher stage disease is not a contraindication for breast reconstruction, women or their physicians, or both, may not perceive this restorative procedure as a high priority compared with treatment," writes Dr. Toni Zhong, Department of Surgery and Surgical Oncology, University Health Network, University of Toronto, with coauthors.

"The optimal rate of breast reconstruction is not currently known for any jurisdiction, and the absence of such a benchmark limits useful research in this area," write the authors. "However, given the broad array of factors that influence the rate of breast reconstruction and the low rate of breast reconstruction in Canada compared with other jurisdictions, it is unlikely that our current practice has achieved an optimal rate."

The authors suggest that having a better understanding of the current rates of breast reconstruction and the different factors that influence access to breast reconstruction in Canada is key to addressing our current knowledge gap.

Provided by Canadian Medical Association Journal