The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook

Prophylactic mastectomy removes an otherwise healthy breast to reduce a woman's risk of breast cancer. It's a deeply personal act. It's also effective: remove most of the breast tissue and you remove most of the risk.
If you're considering prophylactic mastectomy, remember that your risk may be different than your sister's, your friend's or your neighbor's risk. Individual risk is influenced by family history, individual medical history, and lifestyle.

As individuals, we have different risk levels, and different tolerance for that risk. While one woman may consider a 35 percent risk tolerable, another might find it completely unacceptable.

If you choose to have your breasts removed to reduce your risk of breast cancer, you have options. If you decide to have your breasts rebuilt, your mastectomy can be performed in a manner advantageous to reconstruction. Reconstruction following prophylactic mastectomy often rebuilds breasts with no visible scarring. There are many reconstructive options to consider.

Here are a few things to consider about your risk of developing breast cancer:

Know the difference between risk factors you can control, and those you cannot. (A risk factor is something that increases your chance of developing a disease.)

Act on the risk factors you can control. Exercising and controlling your weight, for example, are known to lower risk, while drinking alcohol is believed to increase risk.

Hereditary breast cancers account for only 5-10% of all breast cancer diagnosed.

Most women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors for the disease.

Having additional risk factors for breast cancer doesn't guarantee you'll develop the disease; it means you're more likely to do so.

Contact a qualified genetic counselor to help determine your personal risk of developing breast cancer.

Always consult with a genetic counselor before being tested for BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic gene mutations.

Consider alternatives for reducing your risk. If you're considered at high risk for breast cancer, talk to your physician about semi-annual professional breast examinations, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ductal lavage (a non-surgical breast biopsy). You may also want to take Tamoxifen for its preventative effects or participate in a clinical trial.