New report notes a significant increase in mastectomies

According to the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a new report says there has been a significant increase in the number of mastectomies over the past decade.

The report states that breast cancer rates are the same, but the number of women getting mastectomies has increased by 36%, from 66 per 100, 000 women to 90 per 100, 000 women. Also, the rate of double mastectomies  more than tripled from about 9 per100,000 women to nearly 30. The agency director  said in a statement that the report shows a change in attitudes towards care for breast cancer and there’s a new willingness to treat mastectomies as a preventative measure to reduce the chance of developing cancer. The report does call for further evidence about the effects and safety that theses choices have on women’s health.