--- title: "Decision for contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. | Sutter Health" description: "Findings show the importance of psychosocial factors in patients' assessments of risk and benefit, and support the need for additional pt-provider communication" url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/decsion-for-contralateral-prophylactic-mastectomy-1055312294" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Decision for contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. # Redefining risk and benefit: understanding the decision to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Rendle KA, Halley MC, May SG, & Frosch DL. _Qual Health Res. 25(9):1251-9. doi: 10.1177/1049732314557085. Epub 2014 Nov 4._ 2015-09-01 ## Abstract Rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) among unilateral breast cancer patients are rapidly increasing; however, there are little data documenting the decision-making process of patients with no known BRCA mutations, who elect this more aggressive treatment. We conducted semistructured interviews with nine newly diagnosed patients who elected CPM over other surgical options. Using grounded theory, we analyzed interview data to identify influential decision-making factors by prevalence and intensity across participants. Decision-making factors included subjective evaluations of risk and benefit, avoidance of future breast cancer surveillance and accompanying worry, and desire to maintain (or improve) breast appearance. Based solely on survival benefit, the decision to undergo CPM might be viewed as unnecessary or even misguided. However, our findings show the importance of psychosocial factors in patients' assessments of risk and benefit, and support the need for additional patient-provider communication regarding these factors. ## Research topics - [All Cancer](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22All+Cancer%5C%22%22) - [Disease Management](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Disease+Management%5C%22%22) - [Health Services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Services%5C%22%22) - [Women's Health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Women%27s+Health%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Mapping the decision-making process for adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer: the role of decisional resolve.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/decision-making-adjuvant-endocr-tx-breast-ca-1055312417) Beryl LL, Rendle KA, Halley MC, Gillespie KA, May SG, Glover J, Yu P, Chattopadhyay R, Frosch DL. Med Decis Making. pii: 0272989X16640488. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2016 Apr 06 - Publication ### [Beyond barriers: fundamental 'disconnects' underlying the treatment of breast cancer patients' sexual health.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/disconnects-in-breast-cancer-tx-and-sexual-health-1055312906) Halley MC, May SG, Rendle KA, Frosch DL, Kurian AW. Cult Health Sex. 1-12. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2014 Aug 20 - Publication ### [Evolving goals of care discussions as described in interviews with individuals with advanced cancer and oncology and palliative care teams.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/goals-of-care-discussions-in-advanced-cancer-1055312861) Dillon EC, Meehan A, Nasrallah C, Lai S, Colocci N, Luft H. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1049909120969202. doi: 10.1177/1049909120969202. Online ahead of print. 2020 Oct 28 - Publication ### [In absentia: an exploratory study of how patients are considered in multidisciplinary cancer team meetings.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pt-consideration-multidisciplin-cancer-team-mtgs-1055312430) Hahlweg P, Hoffmann J, Härter M, Frosch DL, Elwyn G, Scholl I. PLoS One. 10(10):e0139921. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139921. eCollection 2015. 2015 Oct 06 - Publication ### [Redefining risk and benefit: understanding the decision to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/risk-benefit-contralateral-prophylactic-mastectomy-1055312871) Rendle KA, Halley MC, May SG, Frosch DL. Qual Health Res. pii: 1049732314557085. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2014 Nov 04 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/decsion-for-contralateral-prophylactic-mastectomy-1055312294#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Decision for contralateral prophylactic mastectomy."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/decsion-for-contralateral-prophylactic-mastectomy-1055312294#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Redefining risk and benefit: understanding the decision to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy.","headline":"Decision for contralateral prophylactic mastectomy.","abstract":"Rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) among unilateral breast cancer patients are rapidly increasing; however, there are little data documenting the decision-making process of patients with no known BRCA mutations, who elect this more aggressive treatment. 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