Debate article: Management of breast cancer in patients with pre-existing bilateral breast augmentation-a snapshot of global practice and call for international guidelines.

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common female cancer, and as bilateral breast augmentation (BBA) increases, more women are presenting with BC within an augmented breast. No international guidelines exist on how to manage such a situation, so this group undertook a global survey to provide a snapshot of current surgical practice. The key finding was the variable oncoplastic management of BC after BBA most surgeons responded that when oncologically safe, breast conservation with implant preservation was appropriate as radiotherapy was not a contra-indication to preserving implants. Immediate symmetrisation could be considered but was not always available. We propose a large multicenter observational study to support the development of international guidelines. This will help patients, healthcare funders, providers, and surgeons to optimize care and reduce inequity of access to appropriate oncoplastic surgery options for the increasing number of women with BBA and BC.