French clinical study explores immediate breast reconstruction for cancer patients

A clinical study is being launched in France to investigate the possibility of performing immediate breast reconstruction during a mastectomy for patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Led by oncology surgeon Charlotte Vaysse at the Toulouse University Hospital, the three-year study will involve 163 women across 18 hospital centers.

Historically, reconstruction for IBC patients has been deferred for one to two years due to the aggressive nature of the cancer and the perceived need to treat affected skin. However, researchers suggest that as systemic treatments evolve, the prognosis may depend more on the response to such treatments than on skin preservation. The study aims to determine if immediate reconstruction can improve patients' psychological well-being, self-esteem, and overall quality of life.