11/14/2023 0 Comments Goldilocks procedure mastectomyWomen with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have a high risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Prophylactic oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) You might also want to get a second medical opinion, as well as talk to others who have had this surgery, before deciding if it’s right for you. Removing both breasts (possibly followed by reconstruction) can help the breasts look more symmetrical after treatment.īefore having this type of surgery, it’s very important to talk with a member of your cancer care team or a genetic counselor so that you understand how much you might benefit from it, versus the likelihood of risks and side effects. For example, after a mastectomy, the breasts may no longer look the same, even if a woman has breast reconstruction. Other issues might also be important when considering a CPM. And while CPM lowers the risk of getting cancer in the other breast, it does not increase most women's chances of living longer. Having breast cancer does raise your risk of getting cancer in the other breast, but this risk is still usually low, and many women overestimate this risk. This is more likely to be a good option for women who also have other factors that increase their risk of getting another breast cancer, such as a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation or a strong family history of breast cancer.īut for women who don't have a family history or other risk factors for breast cancer, the benefit of CPM is less clear. This operation (known as a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, or CPM) can help lower their risk of developing a second breast cancer. Some women who have already been diagnosed with breast cancer choose to have the other breast removed at the same time of surgery to remove the breast with cancer. For women already diagnosed with breast cancer Although they might still get some important benefits from the surgery such as peace of mind, they would also have to deal with its aftereffects, which might include physical and emotional side effects. For some women the surgery might not have been helpful. But not all women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations develop breast cancer. Having a prophylactic mastectomy before the cancer develops might add many years to their lives. Most women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation will develop breast cancer at some point. Unfortunately there’s no way to know for sure ahead of time if a woman will benefit from this surgery. For women at very high risk of breast cancerįor women in this group, removing both breasts (known as a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy) before cancer is diagnosed can greatly reduce (but not eliminate) the risk of getting breast cancer. The breast cells that are left behind might still go on to become cancer.Ī prophylactic mastectomy might be considered in two main situations. This is because it's not possible to remove all breast cells, even with a mastectomy. There are different types of mastectomies that might be options.Ī prophylactic mastectomy can lower breast cancer risk by 90% or more, but it doesn’t guarantee that you will not get breast cancer. Prophylactic mastectomyĪ prophylactic mastectomy is surgery to remove one or both breasts to lower the chances of getting breast cancer. Because of this, preventive surgery is not usually a good option for women who are at average risk of breast cancer, or for those who are at only slightly increased risk.įor women who are known (or strongly suspected) to have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, a prophylactic oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) might be recommended as well. Like any type of surgery, a mastectomy can have risks and side effects, some of which could affect your quality of life. Have (or have had) cancer in one breast (especially if you also have a strong family history).Had radiation therapy to the chest before age 30.Have a strong family history of breast cancer (such as breast cancer in several close relatives, or breast cancer in at least one relative at a young age).Have a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene (or certain other genes that increase breast cancer risk) that is found by genetic testing.You might consider preventive surgery if you: Should I consider surgery to lower my risk of breast cancer? Some women who have a very high risk of breast cancer may choose preventive surgery to remove their breasts ( prophylactic mastectomy) to lower their risk.
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