--- title: "Risk and benefit: contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. | Sutter Health" description: "Findings show the importance of psychosocial factors in patients' assessments of risk and benefit in contralateral prophylactic mastectomy." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/risk-benefit-contralateral-prophylactic-mastectomy-1055312871" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Risk and benefit: 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. pii: 1049732314557085. \[Epub ahead of print\]_ 2014-11-04 ## 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. [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25371380) ## Research topics - [All Cancer](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22All+Cancer%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 ### [Physicians' perceptions of shared decision-making behaviours: a qualitative study demonstrating the continued chasm between aspirations and clinical practice.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/doctors-perceptions-shared-dec-making-behs-1055312533) Zeuner R, Frosch DL, Kuzemchak MD, Politi MC. Health Expect. 18(6):2465-76. doi: 10.1111/hex.12216. Epub 2014 Jun 17. 2015 Dec 01 - Publication ### [Redefining risk and benefit: understanding the decision to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/decsion-for-contralateral-prophylactic-mastectomy-1055312294) Rendle KA, Halley MC, May SG, Frosch DL. Qual Health Res. 25(9):1251-9. doi: 10.1177/1049732314557085. Epub 2014 Nov 4. 2015 Sep 01 - Publication ### [Tradeoffs of using administrative claims and medical records to identify the use of personalized medicine for patients with breast cancer.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/identify-use-of-personalized-med-in-breast-cancer-1055312577) Liang SY, Phillips KA, Wang G, Keohane C, Armstrong J, Morris WM, Haas JS. Med Care. 49(6):e1-8. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0b013e318207e87e. 2011 Jun 01 - Publication ### [Linking electronic health records to better understand breast cancer patient pathways within and between two health systems.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/link-ehrs-understand-breast-cancer-pathways-1055312796) Thompson CA, Kurian AW, Luft HS. eGEMs (Generating Evidence & Methods to improve patient outcomes). 3(1). 2015 Mar 01 - 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 [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/risk-benefit-contralateral-prophylactic-mastectomy-1055312871#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":"Risk and benefit: contralateral prophylactic mastectomy."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/risk-benefit-contralateral-prophylactic-mastectomy-1055312871#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Redefining risk and benefit: understanding the decision to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy.","headline":"Risk and benefit: 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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