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Is prophylactic mastectomy right for you?
If you are at high risk for developing breast cancer, you might be exploring possible
ways that you can reduce this risk. While prophylactic mastectomy can significantly
reduce risk of developing breast cancer, this surgery is also a serious choice that can
have a considerable impact on your life.
There are many factors to consider when deciding on a risk-reduction strategy, so take
the time you need to talk to your doctor and family members about the different ways
you can lower your risk.
You may be considering risk-reducing measures such as
prophylactic mastectomy if:
Source Mayo Clinic
If you are at high risk for developing breast cancer, you might be exploring possible
ways that you can reduce this risk. While prophylactic mastectomy can significantly
reduce risk of developing breast cancer, this surgery is also a serious choice that can
have a considerable impact on your life.
There are many factors to consider when deciding on a risk-reduction strategy, so take
the time you need to talk to your doctor and family members about the different ways
you can lower your risk.
You may be considering risk-reducing measures such as
prophylactic mastectomy if:
- You have a strong family history of breast cancer: Your mother, sister, or daughter
had breast cancer, especially before age 50. - You’ve tested positive for BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, which increase the risk
of breast cancer. - You have a personal history of breast cancer, making you more likely to develop a
new cancer in the opposite breast than someone who has never had breast cancer. - You have been diagnosed with lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), which has been
shown to increase the risk of developing invasive breast cancer. - You have had radiation therapy to the chest before age 30, which increases the
risk of breast cancer throughout your life. - You have widely spread breast microcalcifications (tiny deposits of calcium in the
breast tissue), or you have dense breasts. If your doctor finds a cluster of
microcalcifications in your breast, it can sometimes mean that breast cancer is
present. If you have dense breasts, it can be difficult for doctors to diagnose
breast abnormalities and sometimes requires the removal of tissue samples to study
under a microscope (biopsy). If a person has to undergo multiple biopsies because
of many microcalcifications or dense breasts, the scar tissue that is created can
complicate mammography and physical examination. While rare, some women
with these conditions decide to undergo prophylactic mastectomy.
Source Mayo Clinic
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Breast Cancer Prevention
Prophylactic Mastectomy
