Custom Breast Prostheses

The incidence of breast cancer in Canada is continuing to rise. It was estimated that 23,600 new cases of breast cancer would be diagnosed in 2011 1. At the same time, it has been shown that, because of screening techniques, more women are surviving and living longer 2. In cancer rehabilitation, increased emphasis has therefore been placed on survivorship and on the treatment of the whole person, not just the disease 3. In a study conducted to determine the treatment patterns for women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in Ontario between April 1, 2003, and March 31, 2004, it was determined that, of the 7121 women diagnosed with breast cancer, 2479 (35%) had undergone complete mastectomy 4. Rates of breast reconstruction were not examined for the Ontario study, but it has been well established that, for a multitude of psychological reasons, not all women will choose to have breast reconstruction. Concern about further complications and the uncertainty about esthetic outcomes after surgery have been cited as reasons why women do not seek surgical rehabilitation 5. Demographic factors such as age, race, and education, together with preoperative counseling, have been shown to influence treatment choice 6. The alternative option is an external breast prosthesis. ABSTRACT