WOMEN with breast cancer are being denied the chance of reconstruction at the same time they have their breast removed, it was revealed today.
Despite guidance to the NHS in 2002 saying women should be offered this option, nine out of 10 are still undergoing more than one operation.
New guidance from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence reiterates that women must be offered immediate reconstruction unless there are good clinical reasons why not.
It says women should be able to access this kind of care, even if it is not available in their local area.
Figures show that 1,561 women (out of 13,500) had a mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction in 2005/06 – 11% of the total needing their breast or breasts removed.
