Prophylactic Mastectomy - General Information
Preventative Breast Removal for High Risk Patients
Information from Cancer.gov and NCI / National Cancer Institute
- Preventive mastectomy (also called prophylactic or risk-reducing mastectomy) is the surgical removal of one or both breasts. It is done to prevent or reduce the risk of breast cancer in women who are at high risk of developing the disease.
- Existing data suggest that preventive mastectomy may significantly reduce (by about 90 percent) the chance of developing breast cancer in moderate- and high-risk women.
- It is important for a woman who is considering preventive mastectomy to talk with a doctor about her risk of developing breast cancer, the surgical procedure and its potential complications, and alternatives to surgery.
- Many women who choose to have preventive mastectomy also decide to have breast reconstruction to restore the shape of the breast.
The information here on preventative breast removal is of a general nature.
We are not medical professionals, nor are we offering medical advice.
Consult a board-certified bresat specialist, or visit cancer.gov, fda.gov and plasticsurgery.org to do further research.
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