Risk-reducing breast surgery

This increased risk may be because they have:

• a very strong family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer
  and/or
• one of the faulty genes that increase the risk of developing breast cancer. A faulty gene is also called a gene mutation. The main gene mutations that are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer are BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53 and PTEN.

If you’re in this situation, you may find it helpful to read our information about cancer genetics|, which explains how specific genes are sometimes involved in the development of certain cancers.

The information in this section aims to help you understand what risk-reducing breast surgery is, what it involves, and what options might be open to you if you decide to have this type of treatment.

The decision whether or not to have risk-reducing breast surgery is a highly personal one – no two women are exactly the same and every woman’s situation is unique.

How you feel about risk-reducing breast surgery will depend on a variety of different factors, such as your experience of breast cancer within your family and how you feel about your breasts. If you have a partner, their feelings may also be important.

It can be helpful to involve your partner or a close friend in the discussions about the risks and benefits of this type of surgery.

Other things that may influence your decision are your cultural, ethnic and religious beliefs, as well as your level of fitness and general wellbeing.

Our information will hopefully help you to understand more about some of the issues involved, so that you can discuss them more fully and so that you know what questions you need to ask.

It’s a good idea to discuss your situation with a range of professionals including your GP, practice nurse, a genetic counsellor/clinical geneticist, a psychiatrist/clinical psychologist, a breast surgeon and a clinical nurse specialist, as well as with close family members and friends. It’s important to give yourself plenty of time to weigh up the potential benefits and disadvantages before making a decision.

Remember, none of these discussions will commit you to a decision – they can simply help you to make your mind up.

Not all parts of this section will be equally relevant to everyone.

A lot of the information here is about the different breast reconstruction techniques. Whether you choose to have breast reconstruction as well as risk-reducing breast surgery is a difficult decision. Knowing more about the different techniques and what is involved in breast reconstruction| may help you to make that decision. Some key information is repeated in several sections to ensure that anyone dipping into the text sees the information in context.