Great expectations It's an incredibly hard decision:Women diagnosed with breast cancer often have the choice to undergo mastectomy, removing the entire breast, or breast-conserving surgery, in which only the tumor and surrounding tissue are removed.Now,according to researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, studies show the choice plays a major role in post-operative mental health as well. In a survey of 714 women who underwent breast-conserving surgery at the University of Michigan Health System, nearly one-third of women reported pronounced asymmetry between their breasts,which made them twice as likely to fear their cancer recurring.Additionally, beast-conserving surgery patients were more likely to display symptoms of depression,perceive themselves as less healthy and to feel stigmatized by their breast cancer treatment. "It's important for women to think about all of those issues at the time that they're making their surgical decision and realize that although breast conserving surgery may or may not be less disfiguring than mastectomy, they're likely to experience some asymmetry afterwards that may impact their quality of life," says Jennifer Waljee, M.D., M.P.H., the study's lead author. Researchers say the study may indicate that while surgeons counsel mastectomy patients on the type of aesthetic changes to be expected, breast-conservingsurgery patients may not be as well-advised.They add that reconstructive surgery can be an option for patients who undergo either surgery. "It's important for breast surgeons to have an open and honest dialog with their patients so that they understand patients' expectations before surgery and can better address post-operative recovery needs,"Waljee says. — Jessica Abels CTW Features