When a woman gets a mastectomy for breast cancer, her age shouldn’t single-handedly rule out breast reconstruction — even after age 60, researchers say in a new study. The study comes from Cameron Bowman, MD, and colleagues at Vancouver, Canada’s University of British Columbia. It was published in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Bowman’s team studied 75 women age 60-77 who got breast reconstruction after mastectomy during an eight-year period.

Seventy percent of the women reported good or excellent results from their breast reconstruction, and nearly 90% said they would choose the same treatment again.

“All types of reconstruction should be an option for women older than 60,” the researchers conclude.

“Age as an isolated factor should not deter physicians from offering these women the option of breast reconstruction,” they say.

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