Preventative Breast Surgery

 Prophylactic (risk reduction) Mastectomy

• Genetic Mutation carriers

• Family History

• Contralateral mastectomy

A prophylactic or preventative mastectomy involves removing the breasts to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. This is considered for ladies with high risk of developing breast cancer due to an inherited genetic mutation (such as BRCA1 or BRCA2) or because of a strong family history. Some patients having one breast removed because of a new cancer diagnosis choose to have the unaffected breast removed at the same time (contralateral mastectomy).

Women who have a prophylactic mastectomies will often choose to have immediate breast reconstruction. The option of using an external breast prosthesis exists for women that decide not to have reconstruction.