A recent study found that in females with unilateral breast cancer (meaning breast cancer on one side) who decided to have a double mastectomy had similar mortality rates to those treated with lumpectomy or unilateral mastectomy (meaning double mastectomy did NOT lead to longer survival). Findings showed that while bilateral mastectomy greatly lowered the risk of breast cancer in the other (contralateral) breast, this more extensive surgery (bilateral mastectomy) did not lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. This is very important information for females to know as they make decisions about breast cancer surgery.
Giannakeas, et al. JAMA Oncol. 2024:e242212. PMID: 39052262.