Breast Reduction Mammaplasty and Breast Cancer

Breast reduction involves removal of some but not all breast tissue
Recent studies have reported a difference in risk of breast cancer after breast reduction surgery. This seems to be especially the case in women who are over 40 years old at the time of surgery. Risk of cancer reduction was 28 to 50 percent and thought to be due to the removal of mammary gland mass. There was no reduction noted for those women having the surgery before the age of 40, but these studies are in early stages and time may yet show a difference. Until recently there has been inadequate evidence to support prophylactic breast removal to reduce incidence of breast cancer. Breast reduction usually leaves a great deal of glandular breast behind. How such surgery may affect you should be discussed with your doctor. Such issues are too complex for e-mail answers from Dr. Bermant. If you would like to explore such issues with us, please call to set up a consultation.

You can start with these references with most linking to the National Library of Medicine. These articles are written for doctors and may be hard for the public to explore.

Boice, JD, Persson I, Brinton LA, Hober M, McLaughllin JK, Blot WJ, Fraumeni JF.
Breast Cancer following Breast Reduction Surgery in Sweden. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2000 September;106(4):755-762.

Brown MH, Weinberg M, Chong N, Levine R, Holowaty E.
A cohort study of breast cancer risk in breast reduction patients. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999 May;103(6):1674-81. PMID: 10323701; UI: 99255301

Tang CL, Brown MH, Levine R, Sloan M, Chong N, Holowaty E.
A follow-up study of 105 women with breast cancer following reduction mammaplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999 May;103(6):1687-90. PMID: 10323703; UI: 99255303

Tang CL, Brown MH, Levine R, Sloan M, Chong N, Holowaty E.
Breast cancer found at the time of breast reduction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999 May;103(6):1682-6. PMID: 10323702; UI: 99255302

Lund K, Ewertz M, Schou G.
Breast cancer incidence subsequent to surgical reduction of the female breast. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg. 1987;21(2):209-12. PMID: 3500507; UI: 88070442

Boice JD Jr, Friis S, McLaughlin JK, Mellemkjaer L, Blot WJ, Fraumeni JF Jr, Olsen JH.
Cancer following breast reduction surgery in Denmark. Cancer Causes Control. 1997 Mar;8(2):253-8. PMID: 9134250; UI: 97279876

Baasch M, Nielsen SF, Engholm G, Lund K.
Breast cancer incidence subsequent to surgical reduction of the female breast. Br J Cancer. 1996 Apr;73(7):961-3. PMID: 8611415; UI: 96192194

Breast Reduction Surgery Breast Lift Mastopexy Gynecomastia Male Breast Reduction