PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Maine's breast reconstruction rate after mastectomy is only 25 percent. That's half, even a third of many other states, where 50 to 75 percent get reconstruction.
Why are Maine's numbers so much lower?
Some women are simply choosing not to because they don't want to. But if they are choosing not to have reconstruction based on misinformation, that is a problem.
Some women think implants will interfere with future diagnosis. Doctors say that is no longer a worry. Some women think insurance won't pay for it. By law, insurance companies have to cover reconstruction after mastectomy.
Some women don't know that reconstruction can begin at the same time as the mastectomy, and therefore not require any skin grafts.
Some think it will never look right. While there is some scarring, it is now minimal.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Therese White at Plastic and Hand in portland is trying to make sure all mastectomy patients get the right information so they can make an informed decision.
For women to do that. They need to know what reconstructed breasts look like. In the video piece we are going to show you. Warning: it does include pictures of reconstructed breasts.
There are only 4 reconstruction centers in Maine. That means women in more rural areas have to travel. But often they are not even told about reconstruction options until after their mastectomies.
That's why Dr. White and others are trying to get the word out, and are also working to make this procedure more accessible to all women in Maine.
NEWS CENTER