Preventive mastectomy to prevent genetic breast cancer

Preventive mastectomy is a procedure for removing healthy breasts to prevent breast cancer. Preventive mastectomy is recommended for women who are at risk of breast cancer, for example if their mother or brother has breast cancer.

Breast cancer develops in breast tissue, especially in milk ducts and glands. Preventive mastectomy is a way to prevent breast cancer. The purpose of this surgery is to remove breast tissue that might develop into breast cancer.

Who is recommended for preventive mastectomy?
Preventive mastectomy is performed on women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer in women will increase if:

Have a mother or brother with breast cancer.
Perform a breast biopsy that shows early-stage breast cancer or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). This is a condition characterized by abnormal cells in breast tissue that can become malignant.
Having a genetic mutation of BRCA 1 or BRCA 2. This is the main indication of preventive mastectomy surgery on both breasts.
Having breast cancer in one breast.
More than 40 years.
Perform hormone replacement therapy more than five years after menopause.
Have a history of radiation therapy in the chest before the age of 30 years.

The risk of developing breast cancer is also higher in women who have never been pregnant after the age of 30 years, who experience menstruation before the age of 12 years, or who have menopause after age 55 years.

Points to Consider Before Preventive Mastectomy Surgery

Before undergoing mastectomy, patients must first undergo a complete medical examination. The procedures used to detect breast cancer are physical examination, mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, genetic tests and breast biopsy.

After the examination is complete and the results indicate that the patient is at high risk of developing breast cancer, the doctor may recommend preventive mastectomy.

Although generally safe enough to be performed and patients can still have the ideal breast shape after undergoing a preventive mastectomy, it cannot be denied that this operation can affect the psychological state of the patient, especially the second breast that is removed. Psychological problems that women may experience after mastectomy include anxiety and depression.

In addition, as with general surgery, mastectomy also presents risks of side effects, such as bleeding, infection, pain, and complications related to the side effects of anesthesia.

Prevent breast cancer after preventive mastectomy

After mastectomy, patients must continue to undergo routine breast examinations. Here are some things that patients can do to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer:

Do a quick inspection

Women who are at high risk for breast cancer should visit their doctor regularly, according to their schedule. The earlier detection, the higher the chance of recovery of breast cancer.

Drinking drugs

Some drugs, such as tamoxifen and raloxifene, can inhibit the effects of estrogen, so that breast cancer cell growth is inhibited. However, these drugs have side effects, so their use must be consulted first with a doctor.

Live a healthy life

Obese women after menopause have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Therefore, maintain your diet and exercise regularly to maintain your weight. Avoiding smoking, excessive stress and limiting the consumption of alcoholic drinks can also reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Everyone has different health problems and levels of cancer risk. Therefore, to be able to determine whether preventive mastectomy really needs to be done, you need to visit a doctor.