Temporal Trends in Immediate Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy offers significant improvements in quality of life for breast cancer (BC) patients. To improve access to post-mastectomy breast reconstruction (PMBR) for BC patients in the U.S., the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) was implemented in 1999, mandating coverage of PMBR by all insurers. Prior to WHCRA, post mastectomy breast reconstruction (PMBR) was variably covered by insurers as it was primarily viewed as a cosmetic procedure. The objectives of this study were to explore whether the incidence of PMBR has changed over time and whether patient age, receipt of radiation therapy, or tumor grade has an effect on the incidence of reconstruction over time.

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