| When Christina Applegate discovered she had | | | | it. Prophylactic mastectomy remains as the most |
| cancer in one of her breasts and results proved | | | | reliable assurance that the patient would have at |
| that regardless of chemotherapy and radiation | | | | least a 95% chance against a recurrence. |
| treatments she would most likely have a | | | | Breast reconstruction involves the process of |
| recurrence, she did not hesitate to have both of | | | | creating fake breasts, depending on the patient's |
| her breasts removed. For most women, losing | | | | preference. Based on the article written by |
| one or both breasts to cancer is not the | | | | Miranda Hitti and published at WebMD Health |
| preferred option, unless extremely necessary; but | | | | News, breasts reconstruction may involve |
| for Christina, who proved positive for the BRCA1 | | | | transplant of fat from the patient's belly or other |
| gene mutation, which oncologists have ruled as | | | | parts of her body to the chest where the |
| the primary indicator for a more likely recurrence | | | | breasts were. Another is to opt for either saline |
| of cancer, the least favorable option became her | | | | or silicone implants. Both have been tried and |
| ultimate solution. | | | | tested on patients who have undergone |
| Between life and breasts, which one would you | | | | mastectomy and so far the results have been |
| choose? | | | | encouraging. |
| Most women would grapple for an answer, at | | | | Fake breasts may not feel and look as good as |
| least for a moment, desperately praying for | | | | natural breasts but between adjusting to a flat |
| another option. It is a tough decision to make with | | | | chest on a woman's body or having to maintain a |
| the grim reminder that death from this disease | | | | good appearance with fake ones, most women |
| could be the worst case scenario if it is not | | | | stricken with breast cancer would surely opt for |
| arrested at once. However, some women define | | | | the latter. They may not have been so lucky to |
| themselves by their appearance and losing their | | | | keep their natural breasts longer than they have |
| breasts are equally tragic. | | | | wanted, but somehow breast reconstruction |
| Good there is breast reconstruction. | | | | allows them to nurture what is left: their |
| Oncologists across the country do not rally behind | | | | confidence and self-esteem. |
| mastectomy for every breast cancer patient | | | | For this reason alone, who would not say "yes" to |
| however when tests reveal the presence of the | | | | fake breasts? |
| BRCA1 gene, they do not hesitate to recommend | | | | |