By: Mary Bowerman
Article Reprint
Six weeks after her mother died of ovarian cancer, Elizabeth Stower, then 21, was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, 235,030 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and 40,430 will die from the disease. For survivors who undergo a mastectomy, life after cancer can be especially hard, mentally and physically, as they deal with a new body image. A new study by researchers from private practices and academic medical centers shows that more women are receiving breast reconstruction after mastectomies, but the rates also vary dramatically based on geographic location.