I work at lab that ONLY looks at breast tissue for cancer. So we get a never ending deluge of breast biopsies, frequent breast reductions, regular lump removals, and the occasional cancer removing mastectomy. Over the past ~5 years, I have watched “bilateral mastectomy for gender dysphoria” creep up and then lap the number of cancer mastectomies, the number of lumps, and then even the number of reductions. It’s currently behind biopsies, barely. But the number is getting higher, and the age is getting younger. So many 18-25 year olds - the other day, one of the doctors looked at a case and went “wow, 36 is old for a dysphoria mastectomy”. Which it is, because most of them come in even younger, but 36 is so young!!!!! Way more people are getting this than people think - people are always shocked when I say how many I see, and how young the patients are.
I feel really conflicted about this, but I don’t know what to do. We’re not doing the surgery, we’re just checking the tissue for cancer, so I don’t feel like I can morally object to doing the work. I have found occult cancer in breast reductions and prophylactic mastectomies before, it’s worth it to do.
But when you see how much $$$ plastic surgeons and anesthesiologists bring in doing these surgeries, and therapists bring in referring clients, I am completely unsurprised that so many doctors have signed off on the idea. We’ve had to hire on additional people JUST for the mastectomies. Of course they think treating a mental illness with surgery is a great idea. Whenever I see trans people get online and talk about how encouraging their surgeon is, it just makes me sick to my stomach. It’s like 10/10 auto mechanics agreeing that buying the expensive oil conditioner whatever they try to upsell you is a great idea.