Risk-reducing breast surgery - prophylactic mastectomy

This section is for women who have discovered that they have a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer compared to the general population due to a very strong family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer and/or one of the gene changes (mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes) associated with breast cancer. One of the ways to decrease the risk of developing breast cancer might be to have a risk-reducing or prophylactic mastectomy (removal of the breast tissue). This section aims to help you to understand what risk-reducing mastectomy is, what it involves, and what options might be open to you if you decide to have this type of surgery.