A preventive mastectomy is an option for women to dramatically reduce their chance of getting breast cancer. The surgical procedure removes all breast tissue found in one or both breasts before any breast cancer has been detected.
Although thousands of women face this decision every year, Angelina Jolie’s recent preventive mastectomy personal story captured the hearts imagination of the media, public and numerous breast cancer advocacy organizations. Her story will hopefully lead women to inquire about their personal risk of developing breast cancer.
Information can be immensely empowering. If a woman is identified as being at high risk of developing breast cancer (Breastlink’s Risk Assessment Program) we strongly recommend she consult with a medical provider to identify a prevention strategy that works best for her. A preventive mastectomy is just one of many options to reduce the possibility of developing breast cancer.
Preventive Mastectomy in the Press-Enterprise
The Press-Enterprise, based in the Inland Empire, recently published a story about a patient who decided to have a preventive mastectomy after testing positive for a BRCA1 gene mutation. Studies have indicated patients with a mutated BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 gene have up to an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer. A preventive mastectomy can reduce this to five percent.
BRCA Testing and Preventive Mastectomy
If you are concerned about your risk of developing breast cancer please contact one of our centers about our Risk Assessment Program.
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