Women With Very High Breast Cancer Risk

Pure breast health information - Women With Very High Breast Cancer Risk. Women with very high breast cancer risk. Preventive surgery for women with very high breast cancer risk. For the few women who have a very high risk for breast cancer, surgery to remove the breasts or ovaries may be an option. Pure breast health information - Women With Very High Breast Cancer Risk.

Related :
- Breast Cancer Chemoprevention
- Breast Cancer be Prevented

Preventive (prophylactic) mastectomy : Removing both breasts before cancer is diagnosed can greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer (by up to 97%). Some women diagnosed with cancer in one breast choose to have the other, healthy breast removed as well to prevent a second breast cancer. Breast removal does not completely prevent breast cancer because even a very careful surgeon will leave behind at least a few breast cells.

The cells can go on to become cancerous. Some of the reasons for considering this type of surgery may include :

· Mutated BRCA genes found by genetic testing
· Previous cancer in one breast
· Strong family history (breast cancer in several close relatives)
· Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) seen on biopsy

There is no way to know ahead of time if this surgery will benefit a particular woman. Some women with BRCA mutations will develop breast cancer early in life, and have a very high risk of getting a second breast cancer. Prophylactic mastectomy before the cancer occurs might add many years to their lives. But while most women with BRCA mutations develop breast cancer, some don't. These women would not benefit from the surgery, but they would still have to deal with its after- effects.

Second opinions are strongly recommended before any woman decides to have this surgery. The American Cancer Society Board of Directors has stated that "only very strong clinical and/or pathologic indications warrant doing this type of preventive operation." Nonetheless, after careful consideration, this might be the right choice for some women.

Prophylactic oophorectomy (ovary removal): Women with a BRCA mutation may reduce their risk of breast cancer by 50% or more by having their ovaries surgically removed before menopause. This is because the surgery removes the main sources of estrogen in the body (the ovaries).

This document is not about ovarian cancer, but it is important that women with a BRCA mutation recognize they also have a high risk of developing ovarian cancer. Most doctors recommend that women with BRCA mutations have their ovaries surgically removed once they finish having children to lower this risk.

Breast Cancer Risk factor org :
Every woman wants to know what she can do to lower her risk of breast cancer. Some of the factors associated with breast cancer -- being a woman, your age, and your genetics, for example -- can't be changed. Other factors -- maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, smoking cigarettes,  and eating nutritious food -- can be changed by making choices. By choosing the healthiest lifestyle options possible, you can empower yourself and make sure your breast cancer risk is as low as possible.

The known risk factors for breast cancer are listed below. Click on each link to learn more about the risk factor and ways you can minimize it in your own life. If a factor can't be changed (such as your genetics), you can learn about protective steps you can take that can help keep your risk as low as possible.


breast calcifications, dense breast tissue, breast awareness, breast nodule, breast nodules, breast tumor